The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will resume its investigation into the cocaine found at the White House in July 2023, Deputy Director of the bureau Dan Bongino announced in X.
According to him, the new FBI leadership, headed by Kesh Patel, has decided to “renew the investigation or direct additional resources“ on a list of cases “potentially related to corruption“. Among them, according to Bogino, are “the case of improvised explosive devices (discovered near the US Congress on the day of the riots in Washington on January 6, 2021) and the discovery of cocaine in the White House under the previous administration“.
According to US officials and media, the drug was discovered on July 2, 2023, in the West Wing of the White House in a room where staff and visitors kept their mobile phones. The West Wing also houses the President's Oval Office.
On July 13 of that year, the US Secret Service said it had reviewed surveillance camera footage and visitor records, but was unable to determine when the cocaine appeared or who left it. The Secret Service, after an investigation, concluded that the drugs belonged to one of the tourists who regularly visit the White House, of which there could be hundreds every day.
The Washington Post noted in December 2024 that US intelligence agencies have never been able to determine who the owner of the cocaine was and most likely never will be able to do so. US President Donald Trump previously suggested that the cocaine belonged to his predecessor in high office Joe Biden or his son Hunter.