White House, Secret Service respond after emails describe Bidens’ dog attacking people
Written by ABC AUDIO on July 26, 2023
(WASHINGTON) — Another Biden pup is in the doghouse.
The White House and Secret Service are responding to a report of first dog Commander Biden biting several people, including Secret Service agents, at the president’s various residences.
U.S. Secret Service emails obtained by Judicial Watch via a Freedom of Information Act request describe 10 incidents of the German Shepherd biting people in a four-month period — including one incident that resulted in the victim, a Secret Service agent, being transported to a hospital after getting treatment from White House medical personnel, according to the emails.
During one incident reported to have occurred in October, an unnamed U.S. Secret Service personnel warned that Commander was acting aggressive as of late, according to the emails published Tuesday.
“Recently, Commander has been exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior,” the email written on Oct. 26 said, according to what Judicial Watch published. “Today; while posted, he came charging at me. The First Lady couldn’t regain control of commander and he continued to circle me. I believe it’s only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit. He would have bit me today if l didn’t step towards him a couple different times. It was bad enough that the agent on the detail asked if l got bit- just so you’re aware.”
In some cases, Commander allegedly bit agents that were wearing layers of clothes so the attacks didn’t leave any marks, according to the e-mails.
In another instance in November, Commander bit a Uniformed Division officer twice, sending the officer to the hospital, according to the e-mails.
Another e-mail a day later goes into more detail.
“OFFICER [REDACTED] ADVISED THAT ‘COMMANDER’ CAME DOWN THE STAIRS AND WALKED TOWARD,[REDACTED] OFFICER [REDACTED] ADVISED [REDACTED] WAS SITTING WITH [REDACTED] ARMS CRASSED AND COMMANDER BITE [REDACTED] ARM (TRICEP AREA),” the email says. “THEN WHEN [REDACTED] STOOD U OMMANDER BITE [REDACTED] IN THE LEG (QUAD AREA). OFFICER [REDACTED] STATED THAT THE USHER DID NOT COMNTROL THE DOG AND WAS TELLING OFFICER [REDACTED] TO NOT BACK UP. OFFICER [REDACTED] ADVISED THAT COMMANDER CAME AFTER [REDACTED] AGAIN AND [REDACTED] HAD TO US A STEEL CART TO SHEILD [REDACTED] SELF FROM ANOTHER ATTACK. OFFICER [REDACTED] ADVISED [REDACTED] WAS IN A CONSIDERAL AMOUNT OF PAIN.”
“My leg and arm still hurts,” the unnamed officer who was reportedly bitten wrote in an email to a colleague. “He bit me twice and ran at me twice.”
Neither the White House nor the Secret Service addressed the specifics of the report in their statements but seemingly confirmed the bad behavior by Commander. The communications director for first lady Jill Biden, Elizabeth Alexander, said the first family is working on “ways to make this situation better for everyone.”
“The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone. They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise,” Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement to ABC News.
The U.S. Secret Service also responded to the report.
“For the past several Presidential administrations, the Secret Services has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously. Agency employees are encouraged to report any job-related injuries to their immediate supervisors for appropriate documentation,” Anthony Guglielmi, US Secret Service Chief of Communications, said in a statement.
“As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets and these instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, to include with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed. While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” he said.
Alexander said in her statement that “the President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe.”
The New York Post was the first to report on Commander’s biting incidents.
The behavior appears to mirror that of the Bidens’ previous dog, Major, who left the White House in December of 2021 to live with family friends after similar reports of biting.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
