President Joe Biden’s household canine is claimed to have bitten members of the Secret Service in a minimum of 24 incidents, new data present.
The German shepherd, named Commander, appeared to turn into a severe office concern for White House employees within the months earlier than he was eliminated, the interior paperwork declare.
According to the data, Secret Service personnel modified their habits to keep away from being injured by the canine.
“The recent canine bites have challenged us to regulate our operational ways when Commander is current – please give numerous room,” an unnamed assistant particular agent answerable for the United States Secret Services’ (USSS) Presidential Protective Division wrote.
Joe Biden’s canine was faraway from the White House in October final 12 months after a sequence of biting incidents
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In June 2023, an e mail warned brokers they “have to be artistic to make sure our personal private security”.
Incidents had been stated to have taken place inside and out of doors of the White House residence, but additionally at Biden household properties in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, at Camp David, and in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
A supply has stated the Biden household feels “terrible” and left “heartbroken” over the spate of assaults.
“They’ve been heartbroken over this. They’ve apologized to those that have been bitten, taken flowers to some,” the supply advised CNN.
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“They really feel terrible. Commander was over-protective, and regardless that they tried and tried to work on it, they needed to let him go reside with different members of their household.”
Commander was launched to the household as a puppy in December 2021.
However, incidents started in October 2022 and spanned a complete 12 months earlier than he was eliminated in October final 12 months.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for USSS known as on his media crew to begin “crafting potential public responses” for questions concerning the incidents beginning in July 2023.
According to the data, Secret Service personnel modified their habits to keep away from being injured by the canine
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One of the extra extreme incidents occurred on July 29, 2023, the place Commander prompted “a extreme deep open wound” after a particular agent from the presidential protecting division’s counter surveillance unit was bitten.
Another documented incident additionally concerned President Biden on October 2, 2022, when an agent was bitten on the forearm.
Elizabeth Alexander, First Lady Jill Biden’s communications director stated: “The president and first girl care deeply concerning the security of those that work on the White House and people who shield them each day.
“Despite further canine coaching, leashing, working with veterinarians, and consulting with animal behaviorists, the White House atmosphere merely proved an excessive amount of for Commander. Since the autumn, he has lived with different members of the family.”
