Garland appoints special counsel to probe Biden classified documents
Attorney General Merrick Garland, citing what he called “extraordinary circumstances,” appointed a special counsel Thursday to investigate the handling of classified documents found at a former office and the Delaware home of President Biden — ratcheting up the legal stakes and potential political consequences of national security cases ensnaring both the current president and his predecessor.
The nation’s top law enforcement official made the announcement Thursday, tapping Robert K. Hur, a former U.S. Attorney in Maryland who served as a senior Justice Department official during the Trump administration.
Garland’s decision could ultimately redefine the relationship between Biden and the attorney general he chose to run the Justice Department as an independent arm of the government. It also means that for some indefinite period of time, the two potential rivals for the White House in 2024 will each proceed toward that race under the shadow of criminal investigations.
Speaking to reporters at Justice Department headquarters, Garland described how the Biden documents investigation has progressed, noting that on Jan. 5, the first prosecutor assigned by Garland to review the matter recommended that a special counsel take up the case. Hur will examine whether “any person or entity violated the law in connection with this matter,” said Garland, who expressed confidence the special counsel will tackle the assignment “in an even-handed and urgent manner.” [Continue reading…]
Lawyers for President Joe Biden have discovered additional documents with classified markings in a storage space in the garage of his Wilmington, Del., residence, the special counsel to the president announced Thursday.
The lawyers found the Obama-Biden administration records during a search completed Wednesday night of Biden’s residences in both Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Del. All but one of the documents were found in a storage space in Biden’s Wilmington garage, with one other record found in an adjacent room, Special Counsel to the President Richard Sauber said in a statement.
“As I said earlier this week, people know I take classified documents and classified materials seriously,” Biden said following remarks on the economy and inflation Thursday, just after the news broke of the additional documents being discovered. “I also said we’re cooperating fully and completely with the Justice Department’s review.” [Continue reading…]
Multiple aides who worked for President Joe Biden in the final days of the Obama administration have been interviewed by federal law enforcement officials reviewing how classified documents ended up in his Delaware residence and a Washington office, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Kathy Chung, who was Biden’s executive assistant while he was vice president and helped pack up his vice presidential office in January 2017, is among those who have been interviewed, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing inquiry. Chung currently serves as deputy director of protocol for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. [Continue reading…]