White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed stress for a collection of biting incidents on the jowls of President Joe Biden’s German Shepherd Commander.
On Tuesday, emails obtained by Judicial Watch got here to mild that present Secret Service brokers discussing 10 biting incidents – together with Commander biting seven individuals within the final 4 months.
Jean-Pierre laughed Tuesday afternoon when she was requested concerning the canine – and if he could be retired to dwell with household mates as Main, the Bidens’ earlier canine with a biting downside, did.
‘As you all know, the White Home complicated could be distinctive and really tense. That’s one thing I am certain you’ll be able to all perceive,’ Jean-Pierre stated laughing. ‘It’s distinctive and it’s tense for all of us. So you’ll be able to think about what it is like for a household pet or household pets, extra broadly.’
She added that the primary household was ‘working via methods to make the scenario higher for everybody’ by repeating a lot of what was in a press release launched by the East Wing.
President Joe Biden with first canine Commander within the South Courtroom Auditorium. Judicial Watch launched emails from Secret Service brokers detailing 10 biting incidents involving the canine
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed when requested about Commander and stated Tuesday afternoon: ‘The White Home complicated could be distinctive and really tense,’ including ‘So you’ll be able to think about what it is like for a household pet?’
‘I haven’t got any specifics on any adjustments to Commander’s whereabouts,’ Jean-Pierre additionally stated.
Earlier, the primary girl’s communications director Elizabeth Alexander had additionally referred to as the White Home a ‘distinctive’ and ‘tense atmosphere.’
She stated the primary household has been ‘partnering with the Secret Service and Government Residence employees on extra leashing protocols and coaching, in addition to establishing designated areas for Commander to run and train.’
‘In accordance with the Secret Service, every incident referenced was handled equally to comparable office accidents, with related notifications and reporting procedures adopted,’ she added.
‘The President and First Girl are extremely grateful to the Secret Service and Government Residence employees for all they do to maintain them, their household, and the nation secure,’ she stated.
One agent was despatched to an area hospital after the 22-month-old Commander bit them on the arm and leg, and one was attacked when Biden let him off his leash.
The agent additionally had to make use of a metal protect to fend him off from one other assault.
Officers referred to as the canine ‘freaking loopy,’ argued he would have been ‘put down’ if he did not belong to the Bidens and stated he wanted a muzzle.
On November 10, 2022, Jill Biden ‘could not regain management’ of Commander because the canine charged one other member of the Secret Service.
The identical month, the German Shepherd clamped down on an agent’s arm, leading to him needing to hunt medical therapy.
Different scary incidents detailed within the emails have been when Commander was off of his leash roaming the White Home grounds.
The Bidens welcomed Commander to the manager residence as a pet in December 2021.
He was a birthday reward to President Biden from his brother James and sister-in-law Sara.
Revelations of the German Shepherd’s habits points and aggression is not the primary time a White Home pet has sparked security issues.
One other one of many Bidens’ German Shepherds, Main, who additionally bit employees and Secret Service brokers, was moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021 and re-homed with ‘household mates’.
Main made historical past as the primary rescue canine to make it to the White Home as a primary pet.
A November 10, 2022 incident report from a USSS White Home Division Officer notes that Commander ‘bit me on my left thigh after which ran again towards the First Girl.’
‘I went to the White Home Medical Unit to get the harm examined by an expert,’ they added within the redacted electronic mail obtained by JW. ‘I’m at the moment experiencing bruising, tenderness, and ache within the chew space.’
In accordance with one other electronic mail despatched on November 3, 2022, a Secret Service agent wrote to colleagues: ‘Commander chew [sic] UD [Uniform Division] officer [redacted] at publish [redacted] two occasions, one time within the higher proper arm and a second chew on the officer’s thigh. WH [White House] medical handled the officer and made the choice to have [redacted] transported to [redacted] Hospital’.
Later that day, a Uniform Division captain stated Commander was updated on all its vaccines.
The following day one other electronic mail elaborated on what occurred: ‘Officer [redacted] suggested that ‘Commander’ got here down the steps and walked towards [redacted].
‘Officer [redacted] suggested [redacted] was sitting with [redacted] arms crossed and Commander chew [sic] [redacted] arm (tricep space) then when [redacted] stood up Commander chew [sic] within the leg (quad space).
‘Officer [redacted] acknowledged that the usher didn’t management the canine and was telling Officer [redacted] to not again up.
‘Officer [redacted] suggested that Commander got here after [redacted] once more and [redacted] had to make use of a metal cart to sheild [sic] [redacted] self from one other assault. Officer [redacted] suggested [redacted] was in a substantial quantity of ache.’
The agent was then placed on restricted obligation for 3 days on recommendation from docs.
The White Home is now giving Biden’s youthful canine further coaching after being concerned in 10 White Home and Delaware assaults in current months
Biden has now had three German Shepherds as first pets throughout his presidency. Champ, whom Biden is petting above, handed in June 2021. Main (on left) additionally bit employees and Secret Service brokers and re-homed with ‘household mates’ in 2021. The Bidens then adopted Commander, one other German Shepherd
A Uniformed Division officer then emailed the assault sufferer on November 5, 2022, to ask how he was doing and referred to as Commander ‘silly’.
‘Doing alright [redacted]? That is freaking loopy that silly canine – rolling my eyes [redacted].’
The sufferer replies: ‘My leg and arm nonetheless hurts. He bit me twice and ran at me twice.’
One month later, an officer with the Uniformed Division despatched an electronic mail with the topic line: ‘Issues of Excessive Concern,’ and famous that the group of these attacked or feeling threatened by Commander wanted to ‘deal with the difficulty ASAP collectively.’
In October 2022, a Uniformed Division officer wrote to colleagues: ‘Commander has been exhibiting extraordinarily aggressive habits.
‘Right now, whereas posted, he got here charging at me. The First Girl could not regain management of commander [sic] and he continued to circle me. I consider it is solely a matter of time earlier than an agent/officer is attacked or bit.’
He would have bit me right now if I did not step in direction of him a pair completely different occasions. It was unhealthy sufficient that the agent on the element requested if I acquired bit – simply so that you’re conscious.
The colleague says: ‘What a joke [redacted] – if it wasn’t their canine he would have already got been put down – freaking clown wants a muzzle – hope you get to feeling higher [redacted].’
Then on December 11, 2022, a Secret Service Particular Agent within the Presidential Protecting Division was attacked after Biden apparently let the canine off the leash.
‘The accidents included a chew to the left forearm leading to bruising and roughly a 1 ½ cm minimize and a chew to the fitting hand on the thumb ensuing a 1 cm minimize. I acquired therapy from White Home Medical from LTC [redacted]. The accidents have been [redacted] and I returned to work the remainder of my shift.’
The primary couple welcomed Commander to the White Home as a pet in December 2021
Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service chief of communications, advised DailyMail.com: ‘For the previous a number of Presidential administrations, the Secret Companies has navigated tips on how to greatest function round household pets and these incidents aren’t any exception.
‘We take the security and wellbeing of our workers extraordinarily significantly. Company workers are inspired to report any job-related accidents to their speedy supervisors for applicable documentation. As such, we’re conscious of previous incidents involving first-family pets. These cases have been handled equally to comparable office accidents, together with related notifications and reporting procedures adopted.’
‘Whereas particular brokers and officers neither look after nor deal with the primary household’s pets, we repeatedly work with all relevant entities to reduce adversarial impacts in an atmosphere that features pets.’