Biden’s Team Finds Another Batch Of Government Records After Discovering Classified Docs In Private Office, Reports Say

Topline

President Joe Biden’s aides discovered a second batch of government records after initially uncovering classified documents in a private office Biden used at a D.C. think tank, according to multiple reports, though the scope of the new find is unclear.

President Joe Biden listens during a news conference with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez … [+] Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit at the National Palace in Mexico City on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Key Facts

The records were found at a second location and include more classified documents, according to NBC News.

Little is clear beyond that—it’s not known exactly where the records were found, how many there may be and when they date to.

An initial set of around 10 classified documents were reportedly found on November 2 inside a closet at Biden’s former office on the Penn Biden Center campus in Washington, and Biden claimed his legal team “immediately” turned them over to the National Archives, which later alerted the Justice Department.

The White House said it is “fully cooperating” with the Justice Department review, which does not appear to be a formal criminal investigation at this point.

Neither the White House nor Justice Department immediately responded to requests for comment from Forbes.

Key Background

The first batch of records found at the Penn Biden Center office reportedly date to the time Biden served as vice president, though Biden on Tuesday claimed he has no knowledge of what the documents are about, calling the discovery a “surprise.” CNN reported earlier in the day that briefings about Iran, Ukraine and the United Kingdom were among the classified records. Biden served as an honorary professor for the University of Pennsylvania—which runs the center—in the years leading up to his 2020 presidential bid. It’s not believed he used the office at the Penn Biden Center after announcing his presidential run. Presidents and their administrations are legally required to turn over materials to the National Archives upon leaving office in accordance with the Presidential Records Act.

Chief Critics

Republicans are pushing for a broader investigation into Biden’s handling of the records, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tweeting “Special counsel” after news broke of the second batch.

Tangent

The Biden findings have drawn comparisons to Trump’s legal problems, after Trump allegedly took a trove of classified records to his private home after leaving office, but the situations seem very different. Trump’s documents were recovered during an FBI raid after prosecutors said he spent months dodging a subpoena requiring him to turn over the records, while Biden claims his lawyers voluntarily alerted authorities and handed over the documents.

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Key Background

Chief Critics

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