President Joe Biden’s German Shepherd Commander has been forced to leave the White House after biting staff and other mansion workers in addition to the 11 known incidents involving the Secret Service.
The dog’s departure comes amid the publication of a new image of Commander placing his teeth on the arm of 71-year-old White House grounds superintendent Dale Haney last month, although the White House insisted the dog was just playing at the time. It comes after reports that Commander had attacked a Secret Service agent on September 25.
Biden aides have previously blamed the Secret Service for Commander’s aggression, with one citing that the incidents had occurred with “enormous men with guns acting suspiciously hostile.”
Commander’s Attacks
In July, the New York Post reported that Commander bit seven Secret Service agents from October last year to January. In one incident, an official was taken to a local hospital for wounds to their arm and thigh, according to a Freedom of Information request by watchdog group Judicial Watch.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment on the latest photograph on Wednesday, while spokesperson for First Lady Jill Biden, Elizabeth Alexander, said the dog had not bitten the groundskeeper despite the contents of the email.
“We spoke to Dale about the picture, and he said that Commander was being playful, and there was no bite, no pressure of teeth on his skin, no mark, just some dog slobber,” Alexander said. “The First Family continues to work on ways to help Commander handle the often-unpredictable nature of the White House grounds.”
Judicial Watch is seeking further emails from the Secret Service amid rumors there may have been additional incidents currently not reported. The emails omit 17 months of the dog’s time at the White House, fueling speculation that further attacks may have happened during that period.
“It is beyond belief that, even after Judicial Watch exposed their attacking 10 Secret Service personnel, Joe and Jill Biden have continued to let their dog menace and attack Secret Service and White House staff. Let’s be blunt: the dangerous dog could kill someone,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The ongoing Biden administration cover-up of the Biden dog attacks on Secret Service agents is dangerous corruption.”
Major Trouble
It’s not the first time that one of Biden’s German Shepherds has bitten staff and White House guests. His former dog, Major, was moved out of the White House after repeated attacks on Secret Service personnel and a visitor to the President’s residence.
Major was sent to live with family friends in 2021. However, according to reports on Wednesday, Jill Biden was warned by residence staff that the former first dog’s aggressiveness could lead to a lawsuit.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
