Topline
President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, has been involved in several biting incidents both at the White House and the Biden house in Delaware, according to records published Tuesday from a conservative watchdog group, after another Biden dog had to be sent to live elsewhere after it bit several people.
President Joe Biden’s dog Commander bit Secret Service agents at least ten times.
Key Facts
From October to January, Commander—a 22-month-old German shepherd—bit Secret Service officers at least ten times, including one incident that sent a uniformed officer to the hospital, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch released Tuesday.
Some incidents occurred when Commander was walking the ground unleashed, and in one incident, First Lady Jill Biden “couldn’t regain control” of the dog as he charged a Secret Service member, according to emails obtained by Judicial Watch.
The records were obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit after it claimed a division of the Department of Homeland Security “failed to respond adequately” to its request for information surrounding biting incidents.
The U.S. Secret Service was aware of the incidents and compared them to workplace injuries, but noted that special agents and officers “neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets,” Anthony Guglielmi, US Secret Service chief of communications, said in a statement to Forbes.
The White House did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
Crucial Quote
“Commander has been exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior,” a Uniform Division officer wrote in an email obtained by Judicial Watch. “I believe it’s only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit,” the email went on to say.
Key Background
Commander was a gift from Biden’s brother James, given to the family in December 2021. The Biden family previously had another German shepherd named Major. But after a number of biting incidents, Major was reportedly sent to live with friends of the Bidens in Delaware. Major was adopted from a shelter in 2018 and had reportedly behaved aggressively toward White House staff in the past, including barking, jumping and “charging.” When the Bidens moved into the White House, they brought both Major and an older German shepherd named Champ with them. Major was the first shelter dog to live in the White House.
Further Reading
Report: Joe Biden’s Dogs Moved Out Of White House After ‘Biting Incident’ (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/07/25/bidens-dog-bit-secret-service-officers-at-least-10-times-records-show/