President Joe Biden was a witness to some of his dog’s attacks on Secret Service members and other White House staffers, new records obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by Judicial Watch show.
The Biden family has had to rehome two of their German Shepherds—Major and Commander—over incidents in which the dogs have attacked people at the White House. The First Family sent Major away from the White House in 2021. The Bidens more recently rehomed Commander after 24 separate documented instances of the dog attacking people, including at least one incident that reportedly led to a Secret Service officer being hospitalized.
New records obtained by Judicial Watch indicate not only that Biden was aware of these attacks as they occurred, but even personally witnessed some of them.
A Secret Service officer’s September 2023 account of one attack reads:
“POTUS took Commander (on a leash) to the Kennedy Garden this evening for a walk. While POTUS and Commander were in the Kennedy Garden I was standing half way from the Book-Sellers and the Family Theater. POTUS opened the Book-Seller door and said [redacted]. As I started to walk toward him to see if he needed help, Commander ran through his legs and bit my left arm through the front of my jacket. I pulled my arm away and yelled no. POTUS [redacted] Commander. POTUS then [redacted]. I obliged and Commander let me pet him. When turning to close the door, Commander jumped again and bit my left arm for the second time. POTUS [redacted] Commander and attached the leash to him. My suit coat has 3 holes, 1 being all the way through. No skin was broken.”
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A previous set of records detailed an October 2022 incident in which Biden witnessed his dog attack one of his Secret Service officers.
“I was bit/grabbed on the left forearm by the President’s dog Commander. I was holding the door open of the Palm Room/West Colonnade side. I was working shift that day and the incident occurred when the President took the dog out on the South Grounds. Upon returning inside is when the incident occurred. Commander and POTUS were entering the Palm Room through the West Colonnade. Commander came in first circled back and grabbed my arm left arm. He then stood up and back down. He is literally my height standing. POTUS entered shortly after since he was trailing behind him. POTUS entered the Palm Room and said, ‘[redacted]’. He proceeded to the 2nd floor residence.”
The latest set of records indicated that White House staff discussed getting Commander muzzled after TMZ reported one of the attacks in September 2023.
“Heads up and FYI. TMZ just reported a dog bite at the White House! Can we please find a way to get this dog muzzled,” read one emailed communication.
Another email that same day stated, “We must get this dog muzzled.”
