Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC addressed the issue on Thursday, dispelling the notion that a casual tourist left cocaine in a highly frequented area of the White House. Instead, she revealed that the cocaine was discovered in a restricted-access location near the Situation Room.
“It was found, by my observation, in a much more secure place — limited access place than that West Wing reception area there,” Mitchell said.
“It is still a publicly-trafficked, frequently-trafficked place, but it’s down near the Situation Room right off West Executive [Drive] down below. And normal people — just average people just can’t get in there even with the entry for the Northwest Gate.”
NEW: The White House is now claiming the cocaine was found "in a much more secure place … near the Situation Room" and next to "where, for example, the vice president's vehicle is parked." pic.twitter.com/N17r8YJyVV
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 6, 2023
As per reporter Kelly O’Donnell’s confirmation, she added that the location where the cocaine was discovered is the West Executive entrance, which, as noted earlier, is in proximity to the Situation Room and the Navy mess facilities. This entrance is also adjacent to West Executive Drive, where the Vice President’s vehicle is often parked.
The Secret Service, when contacted by Breitbart News, affirmed that the entrance leading to the lower level of the West Wing, facing the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to the west, is where the plastic baggie containing cocaine was found.
This particular entrance is utilized by administration officials, staff members, and authorized visitors, including officials from other agencies. It is not accessible to the general public. However, White House staff members can bring personal guests after submitting their personal information, undergoing a background check, and receiving clearance from the Secret Service.
While White House officials maintain that the area experiences significant foot traffic.
Former President Donald Trump said the security tapes would “quickly” reveal who smuggled cocaine into President Joe Biden’s White House after the drug was reportedly found in the West Wing. https://t.co/yTeM5GrBPE
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 6, 2023
“What I wanted to be very clear is that this is a heavily, heavily trafficked, heavily traveled, to be more accurate, area of the campus of the White House,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday.
“It is where visitors to the West Wing come through.”
