Who brought the coke to the WH?

[Anonymous]

To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTF? This is probably the absolute worst response by a press secretary.
Yesterday, from Andrew Bates.
This has NOTHING to do with the Hatch Act.
And, the fact that he did not respond with "That is absolutely not the case" speaks volumes.


https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/07/06/press-gaggle-by-deputy-press-secretary-andrew-bates-en-route-west-columbia-sc/


Q One more. You know, President — former President Trump has made some pretty wild posts recently on social media. One of them was that the cocaine found in the White House was — had belonged to either the President or his son. Are you willing to say that that’s not the case, that they don’t belong to them?

MR. BATES: I don’t have a response to that because we have to be careful about the Hatch Act.

What I will say is that I have noticed there does seem to be some increasing frustration coming from that corner in general. And I think it is probably rooted in the contrast between their substantive policy records.

(then he proceeds to pivot to policy)

It's clear that some of you don't really understand the Hatch Act.
Directly commenting on statements made by a political candidate could indeed be a violation of the Hatch Act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If not for the HB angle, would this story have gotten as much traction if it had occurred during any other administration? Under DC law, possession of cocaine is a misdemeanor so technically not as big a deal as in other jurisdictions. It's hard to believe that this is the first time in the history of the White House that someone has brought in illegal drugs. Seriously, what's the big deal?

First coke story I can remember relating to the WH was Ham Jordan supposedly snorting coke at Studio 54. It was a huge deal.

This does matter though. Coke sniffers are not a reliable crew and coke sniffers potentially having their hand on part of the wheel of gov is worrisome regardless of DC’s lax drug laws. It’s also concerning that we do not know who did it notwithstanding it being found in an ultra secure location.

If the thought is that a staffer brought it in, why wouldn't this be an internal personnel matter? Employers of all kinds routinely deal with employees who abuse drugs (not to mention alcohol).

And why is it "concerning that we do not know who did it"? After all, it wasn't anthrax, fentanyl, a bomb, a weapon, or anything else that could put the president or others in the WH in danger. The story began with the evacuation of an area of the WH due to the discovery of an unknown "powdery substance." When it was found not to be anthrax or any other biological weapon, the story should have faded away. I'm still asking, in all seriousness, why is this a big deal if not for the hypothetical Hunter Biden (the gift that keeps on giving to Republicans) angle?

Staffers with any kind of clearance can be subject to drug tests.

What about the first family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTF? This is probably the absolute worst response by a press secretary.
Yesterday, from Andrew Bates.
This has NOTHING to do with the Hatch Act.
And, the fact that he did not respond with "That is absolutely not the case" speaks volumes.


https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/07/06/press-gaggle-by-deputy-press-secretary-andrew-bates-en-route-west-columbia-sc/


Q One more. You know, President — former President Trump has made some pretty wild posts recently on social media. One of them was that the cocaine found in the White House was — had belonged to either the President or his son. Are you willing to say that that’s not the case, that they don’t belong to them?

MR. BATES: I don’t have a response to that because we have to be careful about the Hatch Act.

What I will say is that I have noticed there does seem to be some increasing frustration coming from that corner in general. And I think it is probably rooted in the contrast between their substantive policy records.

(then he proceeds to pivot to policy)

It's clear that some of you don't really understand the Hatch Act.
Directly commenting on statements made by a political candidate could indeed be a violation of the Hatch Act.

Federal employees cannot engage in political activity while on duty or using their official title. Commenting on something stated by an opposition political candidate would be political activity. He couldn't do it while on duty or while using his official title as press secretary. He did the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting timing. Secret Service "finds" cocaine at the exact time that a criminal investigation is opened into Secret Service destruction of evidence and deletion of J6 text messages. And, I don't think any of the Trump loyalists involved have yet been purged from the White House.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/dhs-launched-criminal-probe-destruction-jan-6-secret-service-text-mess-rcna39392

My working theory: Trump-loyal SS planted the cocaine as retaliation for the investigation.

This is suspicious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

"shocker" and "narrative busted" as breathlessly exclaimed above...

THAT's what's busted. It was found in a common area used by hundreds of people.

[Anonymous]

No evidence that there were hundreds of people there over the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If not for the HB angle, would this story have gotten as much traction if it had occurred during any other administration? Under DC law, possession of cocaine is a misdemeanor so technically not as big a deal as in other jurisdictions. It's hard to believe that this is the first time in the history of the White House that someone has brought in illegal drugs. Seriously, what's the big deal?

First coke story I can remember relating to the WH was Ham Jordan supposedly snorting coke at Studio 54. It was a huge deal.

This does matter though. Coke sniffers are not a reliable crew and coke sniffers potentially having their hand on part of the wheel of gov is worrisome regardless of DC’s lax drug laws. It’s also concerning that we do not know who did it notwithstanding it being found in an ultra secure location.

If the thought is that a staffer brought it in, why wouldn't this be an internal personnel matter? Employers of all kinds routinely deal with employees who abuse drugs (not to mention alcohol).

And why is it "concerning that we do not know who did it"? After all, it wasn't anthrax, fentanyl, a bomb, a weapon, or anything else that could put the president or others in the WH in danger. The story began with the evacuation of an area of the WH due to the discovery of an unknown "powdery substance." When it was found not to be anthrax or any other biological weapon, the story should have faded away. I'm still asking, in all seriousness, why is this a big deal if not for the hypothetical Hunter Biden (the gift that keeps on giving to Republicans) angle?

Staffers with any kind of clearance can be subject to drug tests.

What about the first family?

Being a member of the first family doesn't grant you a security clearance, so, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

Thanks for the explanation. Sadly, this is not going to stop the RW media from implying--directly or indirectly--that HB is involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

Tourists don’t go to the west wing. Visitors closely connected to senior officials might go, especially over a weekend like this but never random tourists. The West Wing is small and trafficked by a core group of senior officials (and not usually the family).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

Thanks for the explanation. Sadly, this is not going to stop the RW media from implying--directly or indirectly--that HB is involved.

The explanation above is spin. Pure and simple. This isn’t a wide open area. I don’t believe Hunter was involved but a senior official or their close confidant is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To clear up the mystery - here's a map, showing a red arrow for the entrance, and a red circle where it was found

In updating where the cocaine was found, officials said that area was also heavily trafficked.

The cocaine was found in an entrance area between the foyer and a lower-level lobby, the sources said. The entrance is near where some vehicles, like the vice president’s limo or SUV, park. It is one floor below the main West Wing offices and on the same floor as the Situation Room and a dining area.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cocaine-found-white-house-was-different-location-previously-reported-s-rcna92906

And? So?

People who keep suggesting it was "at the Situation Room" are off by many rooms. People who keep suggesting it was in some highly secure location inaccessible to anyone but the First Family and some select handful of staffers are also incorrect. It was right in the midst of a main drag where hundreds of officials, staffers, tourists, visitors and other people pass through all day. It busts the suggestions that it somehow "had to be" Hunter or someone else with extraordinary access.

Tourists don’t go to the west wing. Visitors closely connected to senior officials might go, especially over a weekend like this but never random tourists. The West Wing is small and trafficked by a core group of senior officials (and not usually the family).

And everything and every person is closely tracked BEFORE and DURING a admittance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No evidence that there were hundreds of people there over the weekend.

No evidence it was Hunter... who wasn't even there over the weekend.