Washington, D.C. – New documents revealed that President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, had bitten US Secret Service agents on at least 24 occasions, causing chaos and prompting changes in security tactics to ensure the safety of the presidential bodyguards.
According to US Secret Service records obtained through Freedom of Information requests, the biting incidents occurred between October 2022 and July 2023, with Commander biting agents on various parts of their bodies, including the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh, and shoulder. Some of these bites resulted in serious injuries, with one agent requiring stitches on their forearm and another experiencing a severe deep open wound that caused significant blood loss.
The extent of the incidents led to a change in tactics, with one senior agent advising others to “give lots of room” when Commander was present. This warning came months before the dog was ultimately removed from the White House. The documents also revealed that the biting incidents were not limited to Secret Service agents, as they did not cover other White House staff or those working at Camp David in Maryland.
The severity of the dog’s behavior was further highlighted by an incident in June where a deep bite led to the suspension of tours at the White House’s East Wing for 20 minutes. Another bite in July resulted in an agent requiring six stitches and a “small care package” from colleagues, including painkillers, antibiotic ointment, pepper spray, a muzzle, and dog biscuits for safety purposes.
As a result of the ongoing biting incidents, an unnamed senior agent advised that the agents protecting the President and his family “must be creative to ensure our own personal safety.” The repeated dog bites challenged the Secret Service to adjust operational tactics when Commander was present, emphasizing the need to maintain distance for safety purposes.
The documents, while heavily redacted to protect the identity of Secret Service agents and the secrecy of their security tactics, shed light on the challenges and risks faced by the presidential bodyguards in ensuring the safety and security of the President and his family.