Today, Biden addressed the stored classified documents that were discovered this week. The documents were from his time as Vice President to former President Barack Obama. One set was discovered in his former office in Washington D.C., and the other in the garage of his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
President Biden has surrendered the documents for review by the Department of Justice. He insinuated that he intends to discuss the documents further when appropriate. He briefly communicated in a press conference that he would fully cooperate with the necessary protocol after Fox News’ Peter Doocy abruptly asked him “what were you thinking?”
President Joe Biden acknowledged more classified documents were found in his Wilmington, Delaware, home — days after it was disclosed that sensitive documents were also found at the office of his former institute in Washington. https://t.co/zScAN4SvSt pic.twitter.com/NK2FcXTCSx
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 12, 2023
Biden’s Documents
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced today that he will appoint Robert K. Hur, a longtime prosecutor, to investigate how the documents wound up at Biden’s private residence. Hur previously served as the U.S. attorney to Maryland during the Trump administration. The investigation will look into “the possible unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or other records discovered.”
President Biden’s Rehoboth Beach home was also investigated last night for documents, but none were found at this location. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy voiced his belief that former President Trump should not be charged for his possession of classified documents now that President Biden also had classified documents. Conservative politicians and media personalities appear to share the same opinion.
“I think Congress has to investigate this,” says Speaker McCarthy after White House reveals more classified documents were found at Pres. Biden's Wilmington home.
“I do not think any American believes that justice should not be equal to all.” https://t.co/sWEYqNgO4W pic.twitter.com/gd5CbVHdbW
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 12, 2023
The Difference Between Trump and Biden’s Documents
The difference between the two presidents is that Trump’s documents were only obtained through an FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate, while Biden’s documents were discovered in his former office space at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement by his attorneys as they were preparing to move out of the space. Biden has also agreed to completely cooperate with authorities. Trump also withheld over 100 documents, while as of now, Biden only had less than a dozen in the office space.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is also believed that many of Trump’s documents contain information regarding the Capitol Insurrection on January 6, 2021. Two years later, the insurrection has led to more than 900 nationwide arrests. The contents of President Biden’s documents have not been publicly revealed, but it is likely that they do not pertain to an ongoing national level inquiry such as Trump’s.
The Public Reaction
As has been said during the last two presidential elections, many conservative critics of Democratic political figures are treating this situation with the same severity of Trump’s classified documents, though the two cases are entirely different. Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News anchor who has now become known for her work on the Trump campaign and engagement to Donald Trump Jr., went as far as demanding an FBI raid on Biden’s properties. This will not be necessary at this time, as Biden is cooperating with authorities.
Joe Biden's mansion in Wilmington, Delaware.
Joe Biden's beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Two locations worthy of a surprise FBI raid.
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) January 11, 2023
Others have taken to social media to address that Trump and Biden’s found documents lack similarity, and to assume so is an oversimplification.
@salonofficial Some classified documents were found at Biden’s office, but that’s where similarities between him and Trump end.
The investigation of the Biden’s documents remains ongoing, and none were found at Biden’s other private residences at this time.
ADVERTISEMENT
