The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday found six additional classified documents during a nearly 13-hour search at President Joe Biden’s Delaware home, his lawyer Bob Bauer revealed on Saturday.
Bauer said some of the documents were from Biden’s time as a senator between 1973 and 2009, while some were from his vice presidency (2009 to 2017). “DOJ also took for further review personally handwritten notes from the vice-presidential years,” he noted.
BREAKING: President Biden’s personal attorney says DOJ searched Biden’s Wilmington home on Friday and discovered 6 more classified documents, which they took possession of. Some of the documents were from Biden’s time in the Senate, others from his time as VP. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) January 22, 2023
Calling it a “thorough search,” he mentioned that the officials had “full access” to the home, including “personally handwritten notes, files, papers, binders, memorabilia, to-do lists, schedules, and reminders going back decades,” and representatives from Biden’s personal legal team and the White House Counsel’s Office were present at the time.
Biden has “No Regrets”
Earlier this month, sources revealed that the DOJ is probing the discovery of a “small number” of classified documents from Biden’s vice-presidency at the Penn Biden Centre for Diplomacy and Global Engagement on 2 November.
Contrast that with Trump’s 18-month odyssey with NARA and then DOJ. We know NARA started talking to the Trump WH about presidential records preservation in late 2020–and kept at it for a year-plus, even identifying certain famous papers still missing. 3/ pic.twitter.com/bGFJjhvLf4
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) January 23, 2023
Days later, Biden’s lawyers found a second batch of classified documents at his Delaware home’s garage and in a nearby storage unit. Soon after, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Special Council Robert Hur to review the classified documents case.
Nevertheless, prior to the Friday search, Biden on Thursday expressed that he had “no regrets,” adding, “We found a handful of documents were filed in the wrong place. I think you’re going to find there’s nothing there.”
Democrats’ Reactions
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WVa) on Sunday called it “totally irresponsible,” remarking that Biden “should have a lot of regrets.”
Similarly, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) asserted on Sunday that President Biden’s stature has been diminished following the additional discovery. Saying that Biden “bears ultimate responsibility,” he stressed, “Whether it was the fault of a staffer or an attorney, it makes no difference.”
Biden invited the DOJ to do a complete search of his home to makes sure all docs were returned to the National Archives. Trump REFUSED to give the docs he took to the National Archives, the DOJ or the grand jury. Trump obstructed Justice. Biden facilitated justice. Full stop.
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) January 22, 2023
However, Durbin noted that Biden’s situation was “significantly different” than when 15 boxes of classified documents were found at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida last August. “It is outrageous that either occurred. But the reaction by the former president and the current president could not be in sharper contrast,” he observed.
In contrast, White House lawyer Richard Sauber on Saturday, said, “Since the beginning, the President has been committed to handling this responsibly because he takes this seriously,” adding that Biden’s personal legal team and the White House Counsel’s Office “will continue to cooperate with DOJ and the Special Counsel to help ensure this process is conducted swiftly and efficiently.”
Trump had THOUSANDS of classified documents, versus Biden’s DOZEN or so.
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) January 22, 2023
Trump intended to take them, refused to return them, had to be raided by the FBI to secure them, then fought in court for months to keep them. In contrast, Biden’s team returned them voluntarily & promptly.
Republicans Call it “Downright Scary”
The US House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman Representative James Comer (R-KY) said he took Biden “at his word when the first set of documents were found.” “But now this is gone from just simply being irresponsible to downright scary.”
Along similar lines, Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) labelled Biden a “serial classified document hoarder,” questioning “Why did he have these? Who did he show them to? I mean, the only reason you could think of as to why anyone would take classified documents out of a classified space at home is to show somebody.”
“I think you're going to find there's nothing there," said @POTUS.
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) January 22, 2023
This White House also told the American people that the search for mishandled docs was completed.
Now more classified docs have turned up at Biden's home.
How can anyone trust this President? @MariaBartiromo pic.twitter.com/juwQLhieg5
Turner, who is supposed to become the new Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, further stated that the chain of custody of the said materials should be investigated.
Likewise, Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Sunday accused both Biden and Trump of being “guilty of the same sin,” adding that a lot of questions related to Biden’s case remained “unanswered.”