This story dates to last summer when former President Barack Obama’s personal chef drowned while paddle boarding. There was much intrigue, as there always will be when a body washes up on the shores of an ex-president’s home. Tafari Campbell was a longtime chef at the White House who started working there under Bush. After Obama’s presidency was over, he was invited by the First Family to be their chef.
Barack Obama's personal chef drowned at Barack Obama's estate 🤔
— Lady Di (@Lady_Di_W) July 26, 2023
TOO MANY QUESTIONS pic.twitter.com/sbnGt78u1a
Many parts of the story were odd. From the 911 call to the markings and bruising on Obama’s hand and face, conspiracy theories flowed about what happened. The initial reports were that the Obamas were not at their residence at the time of the incident. New documents reveal that after Campbell was reported missing, Obama was on the scene. Our friends at PJ have more (via PJ Media):
New information in the drowning death of Obama's personal chef, Tafari Campbell pic.twitter.com/Tv2JRyUWra
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 21, 2023
The new information was first reported by Jesse Watters Friday evening.
“We have new information tonight in the drowning death of Obama’s chef Tafari Campbell,” Watters revealed. “The Massachusetts State Police responded to our FOIA request and released their report with some redactions.”
“According to the report, Obama was on the scene shortly after Campbell went missing,” Watters said. “The report also states an unnamed female staffer jumped into the water when Tafari fell off his board, but it was already too late. He disappeared.”
[…]
“We also now know that Secret Service has surveillance footage of Campbell from Obama’s compound moments before he entered the water,” Watters added. “So we’re going to see if we can get that.”
[…]
Judicial Watch posted 40 pages of records from the Massachusetts State Police on its website. “The records, which are heavily redacted, indicate Barack Obama arrived at the emergency response scene via motorcade. A short time later, a cold, wet woman, who was a witness, arrived,” reports Judicial Watch. “The next morning, the eyewitness was interviewed in the Obama residence, again with Barack Obama present. The records also detail the existence of a Secret Service video of Campbell and his paddleboarding companion entering the water, and the Secret Service emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the drowning. The State Police records show they concluded ‘no foul play’ in Campbell’s ‘accidental’ death.”
The report from the Massachusetts State Police suggests that Barack and Michelle Obama “had been out for dinner” at the time of the incident, which explains why Campbell was not working that evening.
So, why was it originally reported that the Obamas were nowhere near their home when Campbell went missing? Did Obama lie? Who lied? It’s not a Chappaquiddick situation, but is it Chappaquiddick-like regarding the damage control and the weird details? Sure.
Also, don't expect the Secret Service to turn over that surveillance footage.
