WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ‘s dog Commander bit Secret Service officers at least 10 times between October 2022 and January, including one incident that required a trip to the hospital for an injured law enforcement officer, according to records from the Department of Homeland Security.
The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on Tuesday released nearly 200 pages of Secret Service records that it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The group said it filed suit after the agency, a division of DHS, “failed to respond adequately” to its request last December for records about biting incidents involving the purebred German Shepherd Dog. The group said it filed the request after receiving a tip about Commander’s habits.
The White House and the Secret Service appeared to soft-pedal the circumstance on Tuesday.
Elizabeth Alexander, interactions director for very first lady Jill Biden, said in an email that the White House complex is a “unique and often stressful environment” for family animals which the Biden family was “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone.”
Anthony Guglielmi, primary representative for the Secret Service, said in a different email that his firm has for the previous numerous presidents “navigated how best to operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously.”
The Secret Service supplies security defense for the president and his family, and ratings of its officers are published around the executive estate and its vast premises.
Biden received Commander in December 2021 as a present from his bro James. The president’s previous dog, another German shepherd called Majorhad actually been sent to deal with good friends in Delaware after some biting occurrences of his own including Secret Service officers and White House staff.
The family likewise has a cat, Willow.
On Nov. 3, 2022, a Secret Service main emailed coworkers that Commander had actually bitten a uniformed officer two times — on the upper right arm and thigh. Staff from the White House medical system dealt with the officer and chose to have actually the specific required to a medical facility.
A captain of the Uniform Division emailed later on that day that he had actually been recommended that Commander depended on date on his vaccinations.
A note the following day included information about the attack, consisting of that the officer who was bitten utilized a steel cart to safeguard himself from another attack. The officer later on was put on numerous days of limited task based upon medical professionals’ suggestions.
Alexander said the Bidens have actually been dealing with the Secret Service and the White House residence staff “on additional leashing protocols and training” for Commander, in addition to developing designated locations where he can run around for workout.
“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,” Alexander included.
Guglielmi said Secret Service workers are motivated to report occupational injuries to their instant managers for suitable documents.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Guglielmi included.
Commander is frequently seen being managed by the White House’s chief groundskeeper.
The New York Post was very first to report on Commander’s biting occurrences.
