Sorry, That’s Classified

From The Soufan Center

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered additional classified documents at a residence in Wilmington, Delaware belonging to U.S. President Joseph Biden during a January 20 search. The FBI was allowed into the residence voluntarily and did not require a search warrant. The search comes after numerous White House disclosures of classified document discoveries at the President’s home and private office by Biden’s lawyers, and assurances that these searches had been complete and thorough. Approximately 20 classified documents had already been reported, at least some of which were classified as top-secret. The FBI search was part of an ongoing investigation into President Biden’s improper storage or handling of classified materials

The investigation occurred alongside another ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into classified documents seized from former President Donald Trump’s personal residence in Florida. Biden’s choice to cooperate with investigators offers some contrast with Trump’s refusal, which led to an unprecedented raid on a former president’s home, and the seizure of more than 300 classified documents, which included information on an Iranian missile program and intelligence efforts targeting China. Another striking contrast was the former president’s intentional stockpiling of classified material after government requests that the documents be returned.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate the actions of both Biden and Trump. Following the latest Biden discovery, it was revealed this week that about a dozen classified documents were found at former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s home earlier this month by Pence’s lawyers. U.S. Representative Don Bacon has called for a third special counsel to investigate the situation and echoed bipartisan critiques of how U.S. senior leaders overall handle classified documents.

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