Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas asked the Secret Service for a response Wednesday after cocaine was confirmed to have been found in the West Wing of the White House.
In a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheetle, Cotton said: Prompted She called for the release of information on where the illegal drugs were found and whether they were found in areas where classified information is exchanged.
“If the White House complex is unsafe, Congress needs to know the details and plans to fix the security flaws,” Cotton wrote Wednesday.
Congress and the American people have a right to know how cocaine got into the White House. pic.twitter.com/Fps9AJ6hSQ
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) July 5, 2023
The Secret Service confirmed that the white substance found in the West Wing on Sunday was cocaine, after initially clearing the building over fears of anthrax. White House officials are required to disclose their use of narcotics and psychotropic substances, which are prohibited.
Family members, friends and acquaintances of White House employees are often offered special tours not normally open to the public. (Related: Cocaine Found in White House After Hunter Biden Visit)
“Who can access the White House complex without going through any security checks?” Cotton asked Cheetle for a list of all such persons.
“Who has access to the White House complex with less stringent security screening requirements than the most thorough screening required of individuals accessing the West Wing?” continued Cotton.
Cotton also asked the Secret Service to reveal how often illegal drugs have been encountered on White House grounds over the past five years and whether illegal drugs have ever been found in safe areas. .
Finally, Mr. Cotton told Mr. Cheatle that under 18 U.S.C. I have the authority to arrest you without a warrant,” he said. Comply with U.S. law if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person being arrested has committed or is about to commit such a felony. ”
Because illegal possession of cocaine is a crime under federal law, Mr. Cotton asked Mr. Cheatle if the Secret Service would arrest the perpetrators once they were identified.
Mr. Cotton gave Mr. Cheettle a response by 5:00 p.m. on July 14.
