Michelle ThompsonAs part of an investigation into his management of classified documents following his tenure as Vice President in 2017, President Joe Biden of the United States has been interviewed.
Mr. Biden willingly met with Special Counsel Robert Hur at the White House, spanning two days, according to officials.
Mr. Hur’s appointment followed a separate investigation into confidential documents discovered at Donald Trump’s residence.
It is important to note that no charges have been filed against Mr. Biden, and it is not uncommon for presidents to undergo interviews during investigations.
Ian Sams, a spokesperson for Mr. Biden, issued a statement indicating that the interview took place on Sunday and Monday, personally conducted by Mr. Hur, who was selected by US Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the inquiry. Mr. Sams also stated that the interview was concluded by the end of Monday.
“As we have maintained from the outset, the President and the White House are fully cooperating with this investigation. We have shared pertinent updates publicly, striving for transparency while also safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the investigation,” Mr. Sams conveyed to the press.
For additional inquiries, Mr. Sams referred to the Justice Department.
The documents were discovered by Mr. Biden’s staff in an office he utilized after concluding his vice-presidential term and prior to his campaign for the presidency.
The initial set of classified documents was discovered on November 2nd at the Penn Biden Center, an institution founded by the president in Washington, D.C.
A second collection of records was located on December 20th in the garage of his Wilmington residence, while another document was found in a storage space at the house on January 12th, as confirmed by his legal team.
Upon uncovering these documents, the president promptly instructed his team to deliver them to both the National Archives and the Justice Department. The reasons behind Mr. Biden’s retention of these documents remain unclear.
According to the Presidential Records Act, White House records are required to be transferred to the National Archives once a presidential administration concludes, ensuring their secure storage and preservation.
Mr. Biden has previously stated that he was unaware of the presence of these documents.
- Comparing the cases of Trump, Biden, and Clinton.
- There are four questions that remain unanswered regarding the documents related to Biden.
- Biden expressed surprise regarding the discovery of classified files at his former office.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific content of the files in question. Classified documents can encompass a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from relatively ordinary matters to extremely confidential ones.
However, sources previously informed CNN and the New York Times that the initial batch of 10 classified documents included briefing materials pertaining to foreign countries, such as Ukraine, Iran, and the United Kingdom, from Biden’s tenure as vice-president. Interestingly, these documents were found intermingled with non-classified papers, including information about the funeral of Beau Biden, the president’s late son who passed away in 2015. Some of these documents were reportedly labeled as “top secret,” signifying the highest level of classification.
This revelation occurred during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and the interview had been scheduled months in advance, according to an unnamed White House official cited by the New York Times. The conclusion of this interview may indicate that the investigation is progressing toward its conclusion. The investigative team led by Mr. Hur has not yet determined whether charges will be brought against Mr. Biden.
In a separate, broader investigation, Special Counsel Jack Smith is pursuing charges against Mr. Trump for allegedly retaining highly sensitive government documents at his Florida residence and golf resort after leaving office. Trump is facing seven charges related to these documents, including the willful retention of national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act and attempts to obstruct the official investigation. Trump has consistently argued that he had the right to retain these documents and is scheduled to stand trial in Miami in May.
