President Joe Biden's nearly 2-year-old German Shepherd Commander committed 10 attacks on Secret Service officers in just over a year, according to newly released records obtained by conservative legal group Judicial Watch.
The incidents took place between October 2022 and January 2023 and were not previously reported. Former first dog Major was ousted from the White House over similar aggressive behavior toward Secret Service members in 2021.
On Nov. 3, 2022, the White House physician's office referred a uniformed Secret Service agent to a local hospital for treatment after Commander bit the agent's arm and thigh, according to emails released under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch.
The encounter began when Commander "came down the stairs and walked toward" the agent, who was seated at the bottom of a stairwell in the White House.
In the unprovoked attack, the dog reportedly bit the agent's arm on the triceps area, and chomped down on the quad muscle area of the leg when the agent stood up.
Another agent wrote that the bite victim reported being in "a considerable amount of pain" and said a steel cart had to be used as a shield to prevent further attack.
The attacked agent was placed on restricted duty by a doctor for three days after the hospital visit.
Two days after the incident, the attack victim emailed a colleague who asked about the recovery.
"My leg and arm still hurt," the injured agent replied. "He bit me twice and ran at me twice."
"What a joke … if it wasn't their dog he would already have been put down — freaking clown needs a muzzle," the Secret Service colleague wrote back.
Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton called the records "shocking" and said they "raise fundamental questions about President Biden and the Secret Service."
"This is a special sort of craziness and corruption where a president would allow his dog to repeatedly attack and bite Secret Service and White House personnel," Fitton said in a statement. "And rather than protect its agents, the Secret Service tried to illegally hide documents about the abuse of its agents and officers by the Biden family."
Biden, 80, was reportedly skeptical about the details of a March 2021 incident in which his previous dog Major allegedly bit a Secret Service agent on the leg. The White House has not disclosed any bite incidents involving Commander.
The White House blamed the dog's behavior pattern on what it called "a unique and often stressful environment for family pets."
"The first family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone," Elizabeth Alexander, first lady Jill Biden's communications director, told the New York Post. "They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise.
"According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed. 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."