President Joe Biden has been accused of beating his dogs by the head of a conservative activist group who helped break the story that the president’s pet German shepherd, Commander, had bitten several Secret Service agents.
Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, who obtained emails and records that detailed how Commander bit at least 10 Secret Service agents between October 2022 and January 2023, claimed that a source told the group that Biden physically abuses his dogs, which may explain the “dangerous nature” of the attacks.
Fitton—a top Donald Trump loyalist the former president is alleged to have preferred to take legal advice from over his attorneys in the classified documents case—made the claim in an interview on the Just the News show on right-wing streaming, cable and satellite television channel Real America’s Voice.
The White House previously confirmed that Commander was removed from the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue following a series of biting incidents and attacks, one of which required a hospital visit by an injured law enforcement officer. There is no evidence to suggest that Commander was abused by Biden.
Commander is the second of Biden’s dogs to be removed from the White House following biting incidents. The president’s German shepherd named Major was sent to live with friends in Delaware in 2021.
Fitton suggested that there may actually have been “upwards of two dozen people being bitten without consequence” by Commander, while citing a recent CNN report that the animal was involved in more biting incidents than previously reported.
“And only after all that came out was the dog removed from the White House complex,” Fitton said. “Now we had a separate source who told us that Biden beat his dogs. So it helped maybe explain the dangerous nature of the dogs attacks.
“I tend to think it’s a big story when a dozen or so federal law enforcement officers, who are trying to protect the President’s life and his family’s life and the White House, are being attacked by the dog and the White House lying about the Secret Service not doing anything about it.”
“Biden was allowing his dog to bite agents with impunity,” Fitton added. “It just highlights the devil-may- care attitude or maybe the mafia-like attitude that takes to public office.”
The White House has been contacted for comment via email.
Judicial Watch revealed how Commander had bitten at least 10 Secret Service personnel after submitting Freedom of Information Act requests, with reports of an 11th incident arriving in September.
A Secret Service spokesperson told Newsweek that the latest incident had occurred at around 8 p.m. on September 25 and that an “officer was treated by medical personnel on complex.”
Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service Agent on then-first lady Michelle Obama‘s detail, said the attacks by Commander had become a serious issue for Biden.
“Imagine you’re the owner of a business, a CEO of a company, you bring your dog in, and your dog keeps biting employees. You’re creating an unsafe work environment. And that’s what’s happening now,” Wackrow told CNN last week.
In a statement confirming Commander is no longer at the White House, Elizabeth Alexander, first lady Jill Biden‘s communications director, said: “The President and First Lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day. They remain grateful for the patience and support of the U.S. Secret Service and all involved, as they continue to work through solutions.
“Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated.”