WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, and Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.-48), chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, today sent a letter of scrutiny to Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. and Secret Service Forensic Services Division Vault Chief Matt White regarding the Secret Service’s handling of the investigation into the July 2, 2023, White House cocaine discovery. In their letter, Senator Cruz and Representative Issa expressed concerns that the Secret Service and former Director Kimberly Cheatle were involved in a cover-up. Senator Cruz and Representative Issa set a deadline of September 5, 2024 for responses regarding the incident.

In her letter Senator Cruz and Representative Issa wrote: “There have been several cases in recent years where illegal drugs have been discovered on White House grounds. Whistleblowers reported that these incidents were routinely handled by discreetly disposing of the substances without formal reporting. The discovery of cocaine on July 2, 2023, deviated from this unusual and nonstandard practice because it was found by a Uniformed Division officer – a member of the Secret Service committed to transparency and accountability, unlike other employees who had previously handled such situations with less visibility.

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“The investigation was abruptly closed less than two weeks after the discovery, citing the lack of physical evidence despite the presence of DNA material. Intelligence reports indicate that the FBI lab found DNA on the cocaine packaging, yielding a “partial hit” indicating a possible DNA match to a known individual with ties to the White House. This premature closure without conducting further searches or interviews raises significant questions about the integrity of the investigation.”

You can read the full letter here and below:

Dear Deputy Director Rowe,

I am writing to express my serious concerns about the handling of a cocaine discovery at the White House on July 2, 2023. Recent revelations point to a disturbing pattern of misconduct and possible cover-up involving former Director Kimberly Cheatle and the U.S. Secret Service. This issue comes at a time when the Secret Service is already under scrutiny following its failure to protect former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024.

There have been several cases in recent years where illegal drugs have been discovered on the White House grounds. Whistleblowers reported that these incidents were routinely handled by discreetly disposing of the substances without formal reporting. The discovery of cocaine on July 2, 2023, deviated from this unusual and non-standard practice because it was discovered by a Uniformed Division officer—a member of the Secret Service committed to transparency and

accountability, in contrast to other personnel who had previously handled similar situations with less transparency.

That this officer followed proper protocol set off a series of alarming events. Former Director Cheatle, who had close ties to the Biden family through her role in Vice President Biden’s security detail, appeared to prioritize avoiding public scrutiny over preserving the integrity of the investigation, particularly given Hunter Biden’s well-documented struggles with drug addiction. This shift from objective professionalism to a politically motivated response underscores a disturbing trend within the Secret Service, where political considerations now appear to overshadow its core mission of impartial security and justice.

Matt White, the vault manager of the Secret Service’s Forensics Division, reportedly received a call from Cheatle or her representative ordering him to destroy the cocaine evidence. That order was met with resistance from White and his supervisor, Glenn Dennis. The resistance to destroying the evidence, coupled with the fact that Richard Macauley, the acting chief of the Uniformed Division, was passed over for the permanent position of chief of the Uniformed Division despite his notable accomplishments – including being named the Uniformed Division’s Officer of the Year in 2018 – raises fears of possible retaliation. Many within the agency see Macauley’s non-selection as a result of his support of those who opposed Cheatle’s order to destroy the evidence.

The investigation was abruptly closed less than two weeks after the discovery, citing the absence of “physical evidence” despite the presence of DNA material. Intelligence reports indicate that the FBI lab found DNA on the cocaine package, yielding a “partial hit” indicating a possible DNA match to a known individual with ties to the White House. This premature closure without further searches or interviews raises significant doubts about the integrity of the investigation.

The American people are entitled to a thorough and transparent account of these events. Accordingly, I demand a detailed response to the following questions by September 5, 2024:

1. Please list all cases in which illegal drugs or other contraband have been found on White House grounds since 2021.

1. 1. How many of these led to the identification of a suspect?

1. 1. How long did it take to identify the suspect in each case?

1. 1. Were further charges subsequently brought? If so, what were they?

1. What specific actions did the Secret Service take immediately after the cocaine was discovered? Provide a detailed timeline of all actions, decisions, and communications related to the discovery and subsequent investigation.

1. For what reasons did the Secret Service decide not to conduct further searches or interviews despite the existence of DNA evidence? Give specific reasons for closing the investigation.

1. What does “partial DNA match” mean in simple terms? Explain when this term is used and what it means, especially when compared to a full DNA match.

1. 1. Were any family members of the person who came into contact with the cocaine disclosed?

1. 1. Has a specific person or group of people been identified?

1. 1. If so, was this identified population located in the DC area?

1. Who authorized the decision to destroy the cocaine evidence and what was the reason for this order? State the names and positions of all those involved.

1. Why was the Uniformed Division officer originally assigned to investigate the cocaine incident removed from the case? He was reportedly removed from the investigation after expressing a desire to follow a specific investigative protocol at the crime scene, which led to disagreements with his superiors, including Cheatle and Secret Service Deputy Director Ron Rowe.

1. Why was Richard Macauley passed over for permanent appointment as Chief of the Uniformed Division despite his tenure as Deputy Chief and his award as the Uniformed Division’s Officer of the Year? How do you justify this move in light of allegations that it was retaliation for Macauley’s support of those who opposed Cheatle’s orders, given that this decision coincided with the Uniformed Division’s resistance to the destruction of the cocaine evidence?

1. Was there any internal or external pressure to limit or prevent the investigation into the source of the cocaine? Describe any instructions or communications intended to limit the scope of the investigation.

1. What specific steps were taken to maintain the chain of custody of the cocaine? Were there any violations or irregularities?

1. Was evidence related to the cocaine incident intentionally destroyed or tampered with? Provide details of any evidence that was altered, lost or hidden.

1. Who was responsible for the final decision to close the investigation?

1. 1. Was anyone in the Biden family and their immediate staff informed about the cocaine discovery?

1. 1. Have any of them spoken to you, Director Cheatle, or Secret Service officials about this incident?

1. 1. Were you aware of this incident and were you involved in the decision-making process?

1. What steps were taken to follow up on the DNA evidence found on the cocaine packet? Were these steps consistent with standard investigative practices?

1. Have Secret Service employees reported concerns or misconduct related to this investigation? If so, what concerns were there and how were they addressed?

1. What actions are being taken to prevent similar problems in the future? Detail any changes to procedures or policies to ensure transparency and accountability.

The integrity of the United States Secret Service and the public’s trust in it are on the shakiest ground in 60 years. We must uncover the full truth and ensure accountability to restore trust in our institutions. Your swift and thorough response is critical to upholding the standards of impartiality and trust on which our democracy is founded.

Sincerely,

/X/

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