Circling the wagons
Trump has been saying that the coke found at the White House belongs to either Clueless Joe or Hunter Biden. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates was asked yesterday whether the president can deny it
Instead of making a flat denial ; Bates invoked the Hatch Act and would not comment . He then deflected and compared the President's and Trump's records.
It was a strange response .It wasn't even a denial .The Hatch act prohibits federal employees from talking about or using federal resources for campaign purposes. It has nothing to do with the question raised . The usual out for them is to say they will not comment on an ongoing investigation. And it is also inconsistent with rhetoric from White House staffers like KJP who frequently used terms like Mega-Maga from the podium. That would be a technical violation of the Hatch Act.
The response gives the appearance that maybe Trump hit on something .
They are suggesting that the room that the coke was found is an entrance to the White House that staffers and visitors and tour groups use.
People in the know like NBCs Andrea Mitchell find that implausible.
The coke was found in a " cubby hole " near the Situation Room. Your average guest and tour does not have that type of access.
"It was found, by my observation, at a much more secure place, limited access place in than the West Wing reception area," Mitchell said. "It's still a publicly traffic - a frequently trafficked place, but it's down near the Situation Room right off West Executive down below. And normal people, average people just can't get in there, even with the entry for the Northwest Gate."
MSNBC host scrutinizes WH as cocaine found near Situation Room: 'Average people just can't get in there' | Fox News