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US PRESIDENT JOE Biden’s dog Commander bit Secret Service officers at least 10 times between October 2022 and January, including one incident that required a trip to the hospital for an injured officer, according to records from the US’s Department of Homeland Security.
The conservative watchdog Judicial Watch today released nearly 200 pages of Secret Service records that it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
The group said made the filing after the agency “failed to respond adequately” to its request last December for records about biting incidents involving the purebred German shepherd.
The group said it filed the request after receiving a tip about Commander’s behaviour.
The White House and the Secret Service appeared to play down the situation today.
Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first lady Jill Biden, said in an email that the White House complex is a “unique and often stressful environment” for family pets and that the Biden family was “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone”.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a separate email that his agency has for the past several presidents “navigated how best to operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously”.
The Secret Service provides security protection for the president and his family, and scores of its officers are posted around the executive mansion and its sprawling grounds.
Biden received Commander in December 2021 as a gift from his brother James.
The president’s previous dog, another German shepherd named Major, had been sent to live with friends in Delaware after some biting incidents of his own involving Secret Service officers and White House staff.
On 3 November 2022, a Secret Service official emailed colleagues that Commander had bitten a uniformed officer twice — on the upper right arm and thigh.
Staff from the White House medical unit treated the officer and decided to have the individual taken to a hospital.
A note the following day added details about the attack, including that the officer who was bitten used a steel cart to protect himself from another attack.
The officer later was placed on several days of restricted duty based on doctors’ advice.
Alexander said the Bidens have been working with the Secret Service and the White House residence staff “on additional leashing protocols and training” for Commander, as well as establishing designated areas where he can run around for exercise.
“The president and first lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family and the country safe,” Alexander added.
Commander is often seen being handled by the White House’s chief groundskeeper.
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This kid is an absolute hero….
What the hell is wrong with these Islamists?
It’s sad to see that a religion that once had great scholars & scientists & thinkers now drives these fools to try & blow up schools.
Islamic extremism is the enemy of progress & civilisation.
The suicide bomber is a brave warrior and hero to islam…. Fck, they actually believe that shyt…. Hope his 7 virgins are vicious 12 ft male aliens….
What a sad end for an amazingly brave young boy.
Jesus, with school shootings in the US and suicide bombers in the middle east, we have to count our blessings that we can send our kids to school each day without fear in the back of our minds.
Muslims are trying to convert people to Islam everyday in cork I fear for the future of this country and I’m not a racist!
Too true. Cork Muslims shiteing on about how their mosque is better than the one in North Dublin will get tedious very quickly
Paranoid mate, you don’t get out much..
Remarkable young lad. What a waste.
Brave young man indeed. Crazy what’s going on in that part of the world. I doubt the would-be bomber was much older himself. Totally brainwashed.
Not sure about brainwashed. Robert Pape has done some really interesting research on this topic, summarised here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_to_Win:_The_Strategic_Logic_of_Suicide_Terrorism
Petr there’s no doubt that any would-be suicide bomber would have totally indoctrinated. And they encourage the young. It’s horrendous and nobody really wants to listen or help.
Jamie — No doubt? Based on what evidence?
Based on the evidence that no child is born as a member of any religion. Nor are they born racist, homophobic, misogynistic or otherwise. It’s all circumstantial. It’s your upbringing and your environment. Children are thought to hate.
Keith — You haven’t presented any evidence. You’ve made assertions. I’ve linked to Robert Pape’s research on suicide terrorism and it contradicts what Jamie is saying. But like, believe whatever makes you happy.
your evidence is in the report.one person was thaught to bomb a school.the other person was thaught to respect life!
Petr, careful now. You praise the kid for stopping the bomber but you put up a link that seeks to explain suicide bombers and you dismiss the brainwashing part.
It’s interesting that someone like you will accuse people of being brainwashed by the media, religion etc but a suicide bomber is not brainwashed?!
Petr I was just about to say that you’ve never had that many green thumbs before, and then you went and spoiled it all with your follow-up comments…:-(
Declan — I’ve told you before that explaining isn’t condoning. I’m interested in the social word and real explanations for things, rather than diatribes based on emotion.
Avina — I got more green ones this time: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/profile/99434/the-poor-man-1753505/
:)
A very brave boy who detested terrorists. Terrorist sympathisers who post here should be suitably ashamed of themselves.
i agree james
Gone to soon but what a HERO, Rest in Peace xx
A selfless and noble act of pure bravery and self sacrifice, while it is sad that he lost his life, his family can gain solace in his heroic sacrifice while protecting his fellow schoolmates. While it is not a happy story it certainly gladdens my heart to hear a story of such a valiant act that helped prevent a possible large scale tragedy in a country where these tragic suicide events occur so often.
Terrible waste of a young life in the name of religion
He gave his life to save others. I wouldn’t say it was wasted, but gifted. Still to young tho… Hopefully he can inspire change now.
What a brave young man
Reminds me of Martin Doherty and what he did on the Door at the Widow Scallans
I do not think that terrorists attacking terrorists deserves to be mentioned here.
So everyday Dubliners having a pint are terrorists …. Classy Patrick
Martin died stoping terrorists from shooting the pub up that night he gave his life to save others
The problem with religion – Richard Dawkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBV3eqvQPJs
Absolute hero.
A young boy decided to sacrifice his life before he lived it to save others…
Every one should think what that could possibly be like to even think about before they go barking utter Shite on the site.
Said in memory to a most brave young child who I will never forget.
Yet tomorrow his heroics will be forgotten by the Western world :( he was incredibly brave. I hope Pakistan recognises what he has done.
He has been recognised as a national hero by the govt. And the people who think this terrorism is islamic have one thing common with those di*k heads that they both think it is islamic unlike us 99 % of normal muslims peace
This terrorism is certainly Islamic Wasif. It may be comparatively rare and it may not represent ‘normal’ moslems, but its undeniable that its inspired by Islam and a warped interpretation of the Quran.
Outstanding bravery and selflessness. Along with the brave girl Malala shot by the Taliban it just illustrates some of the horrors ordinary Pakistanis have to endure. Most simply want to get on with their lives and not be bothered by extremists or the government. Inspirational.
Not to mention worrying about being blown up by wayward drone strikes
What a brave man. At 17 risking your life to safe the people around you when i heard this on the news this morning i was shocked by his bravery i only wish that he could of survived as he had many years of life left. I pray he rests in peace and am thinking of his family at this time. Its a story of both bravery and sorrow.
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