Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called out what he believed was “gibberish” coming from the White House in response to th...
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called out what he believed was “gibberish” coming from the White House in response to the recent discovery of cocaine in the West Wing.
Fleischer, who worked in the White House under former President George W. Bush, noted the discrepancy between initial reports and follow-up reporting, especially with regard to the location in which the “white powdery substance” was first discovered over the weekend.
Initial reports detailing the initial dispatch call stated that the suspicious substance had been found in the residence’s library – after which initial field tests indicated it was likely cocaine. “We have a yellow bar stating cocaine hydrochloride,” a D.C. firefighter said via radio on Sunday evening — and officials then removed the substance for further testing.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Fleischer said when news broke that the substance was believed to be cocaine. “Cocaine was found at the WH and authorities aren’t saying exactly where it was found. If it’s the Old Executive Office Building, it’s likely staff. If it’s the mansion, it’s likely Hunter. Reporters do your job.”
Follow-up reports stated that the substance had actually been found in a West Wing “work area” — although which “work area” that might be remains a mystery — and Fleischer immediately questioned the change.
“What gibberish. A West Wing ‘work area’?” he tweeted. “With the exception of the WH Mess and the bathrooms, the entire West Wing is a work area. Where exactly was the cocaine found? In whose office? In the Sit Room? In the private office next to the Oval? Where?”
President Joe Biden, following remarks on education on Tuesday, walked off stage as reporters shouted questions about the cocaine.
WATCH:
After the initial shock of learning that the substance had been verified to be cocaine, NBC White House Correspondent Mike Memoli quickly suggested that the “dime-sized” bag might have been left behind by someone visiting the White House.
“This was found, we understand, in a highly-trafficked common area of the West Wing. It’s an area where individuals, especially visitors, individuals who may be coming for, for instance, say private tour, might have been asked to leave some of their personal belongings before heading into more sensitive areas of the West Wing,” he said.
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