A Justice Department investigation into President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington led to the seizure of six items with classified markings, some from his Senate days and others from his tenure as vice president.
In a statement, Biden’s personal attorney Bob Bauer said the DOJ is seizing Biden’s handwritten notes “for further review.”
Bauer said the Justice Department conducted the search from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and it covered “all work, living and storage areas” in the home. In consultation with the DOJ, representatives from Biden’s personal legal team and the White House office were present.
CBS News broke the story that classified documents were discovered last November at the Penn Biden Center, which served as Biden’s personal office after he left the vice presidency. Subsequently, Biden’s representatives revealed that they had found additional documents with secret markings in the garage of Biden’s Wilmington home, followed by the discovery of additional documents in an adjacent room. Attorney General Merrick Garland then appointed a special counsel to investigate the handling of the documents.
With each revelation, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pressed reporters on key details, the timeline of events and why more information was not released sooner. She has repeatedly told reporters an ongoing investigation limits what she can say.
But the unanswered questions, along with the continued discovery of additional documents, have led to political fallout for Biden, who is considering running for another term. Right-wing figures were quick to compare it to a separate Special Counsel investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified material. His Mar-A-Lago home was raided in August after months of arguments between the Justice Department and the former president’s legal department.
In his statement, Bauer defended how information was released that suggested Biden and his legal team delayed the DOJ. In the latter case, the DOJ requested “not to release the search in advance according to standard procedures, and we agreed to cooperate,” he said.
Bauer said the president’s lawyers offered to grant “expedited access” to the Wilmington home “so that the DOJ can search the entire property for possible vice presidential documents and possible classified information.”
Why the latest documents were not discovered earlier by Biden’s own legal team is still unclear.
Richard Sauber, special adviser to the president, said Biden and the first lady were not present during the search. They spend the weekend at their home in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
“The president’s lawyers and the White House counsel will continue to work with the Department of Justice and special counsel to ensure that this process is swift and efficient,” Sauber said.
The New York Times and other media reported earlier on Saturday that Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, plans to resign from his post in the coming weeks.
Author: Ted Johnson
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
