The U.S. Secret Service is conducting an investigation after a substance confirmed to be cocaine was found on the ground floor of the White House over the weekend. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has requested answers from the Secret Service in a letter, and the agency is consulting cameras and entrance logs to determine who was responsible for the substance. It is unclear how the substance ended up on the White House grounds or how long it had been there.
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The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a "white, powdery substance" found in the West Wing of the White House, which led to a brief evacuation of the complex. The substance tested positive for cocaine on a field test, and the Secret Service has determined it to be "non-hazardous". The investigation is ongoing, and the White House has not commented on the incident.
Former President Donald Trump was arraigned at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, with his attorney Todd Blanche entering a plea on his behalf to the 37 counts facing the President. Trump's attorney Alina Habba gave a statement, confirming that Trump did not need to be given a mugshot due to his status as a former commander-in-chief. Trump now has to abide by a set of pretrial restrictions, including not being able to speak about the case with witnesses, and is allowed to travel internationally with coordination from the Secret Service. Habba concluded her statement by saying, "It will all be handled seamlessly."
On Monday evening, a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers around Lafayette Square across the street from the White House. The driver, Sai Varshith Kandula, was arrested and found to be in possession of a Nazi flag and is facing several arrest charges, including threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president or family members. No injuries were reported, and the Secret Service is working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and urge the public to remain vigilant.
On Tuesday, a toddler briefly entered the White House grounds, prompting a response from the Secret Service Uniformed Division. The toddler and parents were quickly reunited, and the incident may be the first successful intrusion since the fence was doubled in height. The Secret Service is reminding visitors to remain outside the fence line and is continuing to investigate the incident.
The U.S. Secret Service has been informed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland of local media reports that a document related to President Joe Biden's visit to Belfast was found on a city street. The document contained a rough itinerary and names and positions of police officials, but the Secret Service has assured the public that their security plans remain intact and the safety of the President is their top priority. They are currently working with the PSNI to investigate the incident.
President Joe Biden is set to embark on a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The trip is part homecoming, part statecraft and part politics, as Biden has a deeply felt personal history with the country. He will deliver remarks at Ulster University to highlight the progress since the signing of the peace agreement in 1998 and trace his family history in the country. Biden's trip is an intersection of his personal history and his view of international relations, and is expected to be a meaningful and memorable journey.
Donald Trump was arraigned on Tuesday in a Manhattan courtroom on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was the first president in American history to be charged with a criminal offense. The court filings from the Manhattan district attorney's office included some surprises, and it is unclear what the outcome of the case will be.