Secret Service Ending White House Cocaine Investigation

The FBI lab couldn't find fingerprints or sufficient DNA on the cocaine bag.

Of course the Secret Service is ending the investigation into the cocaine found at the White House.

The FBI lab couldn't find fingerprints or sufficient DNA on the cocaine bag:

In a statement Thursday, after briefing members of Congress on the matter, the Secret Service said the cocaine was found on July 2 "inside a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing."

The Secret Service said it has been investigating "how this item entered the White House," including a "methodical review of security systems and protocols."

"This review included a backwards examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found," the Secret Service said. It said investigators developed "a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI's analysis of the substance's packaging."

Plus no surveillance cameras:

"Therefore, the Secret Service is not able to compare evidence against the known pool of individuals," the Secret Service said, adding that the FBl's evaluation of the substance "also confirmed that it was cocaine."

"There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area," the Secret Service continued. "Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered."

"At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence," they said.

Who are the known persons? Last week, Sen Ton Cotton sent a letter to the Secret Service with six questions. The first question asked for a list of those who have access to the White House without having to go through any security screening.

It doesn't help that officials changed the location of the cocaine three times: the residence's library, a heavily trafficked entrance, and then a secure but still heavily trafficked area by the Situation Room.

I guess the Secret Service settled for the heavily trafficked entrance as the discovery spot. Probably easier to say and get away with saying they couldn't find the culprit.

The Wagner Group private military company has surrendered more than 2,000 pieces of military hardware to Russia's military inventory, the country's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. The transfer process is going "according to plan" and is nearing completion.

The inventory includes hundreds of heavy weaponry pieces, including main battle tanks of various types, multiple rocket launcher systems, self-propelled and towed artillery, anti-aircraft systems, and other combat vehicles, the ministry said in a statement. The military also released a video, showing rows of tracked and wheeled combat vehicles, as well as other equipment kept at undisclosed locations.

Dozens of combat vehicles transferred by the PMC group "have never been used in a combat environment," the military noted. The group also surrendered over 2,500 tons of assorted ammunition as well as around 20,000 firearms.

The equipment is currently being transferred to rear field sites for maintenance, the ministry stated. Afterwards, it will be transferred to Russian military units for its "intended use," the ministry concluded.

US President Joe Biden's administration has agreed to push forward with the controversial sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye, just hours after Ankara stopped obstructing Sweden's accession to NATO.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the decision on Tuesday, saying Biden would work with Congress to get the arms deal finalized.

"He has placed no caveats or conditions. He intends to move forward with that transfer in consultation with Congress."

A group of US senators threatened to block the aircraft deal in February unless Ankara approved the bid by Sweden and Finland to join the US-led military bloc. Finland became a NATO member in April.

Despite the change in Ankara's position, some US lawmakers still have qualms over the F-16 deal. The US must "find a way to ensure that Turkey's aggression against its neighbors ceases," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat. He also has raised concerns about Turkish human rights and Ankara's overflights through Greek airspace.

Menendez added that he wants assurances that Türkiye will not use the warplanes "to act in the belligerent way they have against other NATO allies, not just Greece."

In 2019, Washington removed Türkiye from a program to buy F-35 fighter jets because of Ankara's purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.

Ankara requested US approval in October 2021 for a $20 billion purchase that would include new F-16 fighters, built by Lockheed Martin, as well as around 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes.

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