FBI set to reopen investigation into case that sparked major conspiracy theories
Washington D.C.: The FBI will reopen investigations into several high-profile cases, including the 2023 discovery of cocaine in the White House, the 2021 pipe bombs near Capitol riot sites, and the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Dan Bongino, the FBI’s deputy director, announced the move on X, vowing to prioritize cases that have fueled right-wing conspiracy theories.
The cocaine, found in a West Wing cubby during a public tour weekend, sparked Republican accusations—without evidence—that it belonged to President Joe Biden or his son Hunter, despite the family being out of town. Though lab tests confirmed the substance was cocaine, the Secret Service never identified the owner.
In July 2023, a small plastic bag containing less than a gram of cocaine was discovered by Secret Service agents inside a vestibule of the White House, specifically in a cubby near the West Wing entrance where visitors store their phones and belongings before entering the West Wing.
The discovery prompted a brief evacuation of the White House complex. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time and not present in Washington.
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The Secret Service immediately initiated an investigation, working with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to test the substance and analyze the packaging for fingerprints and DNA.
The FBI confirmed the substance was cocaine, but forensic analysis yielded no latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA for comparison.
Security camera footage did not provide any investigative leads, as the area was heavily trafficked and cameras were not aimed directly at the cubbies. Hundreds of people, including visitors, staff, and contractors, had access to the area in the days before the cocaine was found.
After reviewing visitor logs and security footage, and finding no physical evidence to identify a suspect, the Secret Service closed its investigation 11 days after the discovery.
The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, repeatedly emphasized that the cocaine was found in a highly trafficked area accessible to many people, not just staff or family members.
Jean-Pierre also stressed that the Biden family was not at the White House when the cocaine was discovered, countering speculation and accusations, particularly those suggesting involvement by Hunter Biden.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan clarified that the Situation Room had been under construction for months and only construction workers had access to that area, distancing the incident from sensitive or restricted spaces.
The White House labeled accusations linking the cocaine to President Biden or his family as "incredibly irresponsible" and "extremely irresponsible," directly responding to claims made by political opponents, including then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.