FBI reopens probe into White House cocaine discovery: What really happened in 2023?

FBI Director Kash Patel - File Photo

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is reopening its investigation into the mysterious discovery of a small bag of cocaine inside the White House complex – a case that stirred controversy and conspiracy theories since it first came to light in July 2023.

The move is part of a broader push by the Bureau’s new leadership to revisit unresolved, high-profile cases that have captured national attention.

A mystery in the West Wing

On July 2, 2023, the US Secret Service agents discovered a small plastic bag containing white powder during a routine security sweep inside a cubby area of the West Wing – a section frequently used by staffers, visitors, and even family members of the president.

Preliminary tests quickly confirmed the substance was cocaine, prompting an immediate evacuation and a short-lived hazmat response until it was deemed safe.

Despite the heightened security environment and ubiquitous surveillance at the White House, the original investigation led by the Secret Service in coordination with the FBI was closed just weeks later without identifying a suspect. The agency claimed that surveillance footage in the area was inconclusive, DNA and fingerprint evidence was insufficient, and visitor logs did not point definitively to any individual.

The lack of resolution sparked public outrage and political finger-pointing, with critics questioning how such a breach could occur in one of the most secure locations in the world.

Why the case is being reopened?

Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent himself, announced the decision to revisit the case in a post on X.

“Shortly after swearing in, the Director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest. We made the decision to either re-open, or push additional resources and investigative attention, to these cases. These cases are the DC pipe bombing investigation, the cocaine discovery at the prior administration’s White House, and the leak of the Supreme Court Dobbs case. I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us then please contact the FBI,” the post read

This marks a major shift in FBI policy under its new leadership, which is attempting to repair what critics say is a damaged reputation caused by perceived partisanship, botched investigations, and a growing mistrust of federal law enforcement.

The reopening of this case, along with the Dobbs leak and the January 6 pipe bomb investigation, signals a more aggressive posture by federal law enforcement toward politically sensitive cases that were previously shelved or left unresolved. It also raises the stakes for the White House, which will now face renewed scrutiny.