Republican detractors were quick to put President Joe Biden on blast over revelations that classified documents from his vice president days surfaced at a Biden-aligned think tank late last year.
Drawing parallels with the document ordeal plaguing former President Donald Trump, Republicans scorned Biden and demanded accountability. They emphasized that, unlike Trump, he lacked powers to declassify documents. Democrats quickly shrugged off their broadsides.
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS FROM BIDEN VICE PRESIDENCY SURFACE AT THINK TANK, SPARKING INQUIRY: REPORT
Biden’s attorneys flagged roughly 10 documents with classified markings at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington shortly before the midterm elections and told the National Archives and Records Administration of their discovery. The situation has prompted a Justice Department review of how the documents wound up there, according to CBS.
“Joe Biden took classified documents from the White House when he was Vice President. The VP does NOT have the power to declassify, only POTUS. Joe Biden stole classified documents. This is a very serious crime. DOJ & NARA can’t sweep this under the rug AND persecute Trump,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted.
Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago estate was raided for classified material on Aug. 8, has insisted that he declassified the documents in dispute. He has further contended that a president can declassify material “even by thinking about it.” At least 300 documents bearing classified markings were recovered by the government from Mar-a-Lago since January 2022.
Joe Biden took classified documents from the White House when he was Vice President.
The VP does NOT have the power to declassify, only POTUS.
Joe Biden stole classified documents.
This is a very serious crime.
DOJ & NARA can’t sweep this under the rug AND persecute Trump.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 10, 2023
“Classified documents from Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential days found at his private office. When will the FBI raid his home?” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) tweeted, alluding to the Aug. 8 raid.
BREAKING: Classified documents from Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential days found at his private office.
When will the FBI raid his home?
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) January 9, 2023
“Classified documents found at @JoeBiden center. LOCK HIM UP…go ahead and get Hunter while you’re at it. Make it two for one! Watch the double stands play out because it’s ole Joe. Chris Wray & Merrick Garland have his back,” former Republican state Rep. Vernon Jones tweeted.
The younger Biden has been under the legal microscope for various alleged tax offenses and a false statement about a gun purchase. House Republicans are poised to unleash their newfound powers on the younger Biden and open investigations into him.
Classified documents found at @JoeBiden center.
LOCK HIM UP…go ahead and get Hunter while you’re at it. Make it two for one!
Watch the double stands play out because it’s ole Joe. Chris Wray & Merrick Garland have his back. https://t.co/mKN9gbL6PW
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) January 9, 2023
“Convene a grand jury,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted plainly.
“It’s been revealed that classified documents were found inside Joe Biden’s private office. Why were they there, why wasn’t the Justice Department looking for these documents, and who had access to them?” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) tweeted.
It’s been revealed that classified documents were found inside Joe Biden’s private office.
Why were they there, why wasn’t the Justice Department looking for these documents, and who had access to them?
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 9, 2023
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) demurred when asked whether his committee would investigate the matter.
Conservative commentators added to Republican attacks, highlighting Biden’s criticism of Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged financial ties between China and the University of Pennsylvania, which is associated with the Biden-aligned think tank.
Democrats and critics of Trump responded by underscoring how Biden’s lawyers flagged the documents and turned them over to the National Archives.
“Attorneys for President Biden appear to have taken immediate and proper action to notify the National Archives about their discovery of a small handful of classified documents,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told CNN.
Jamie Raskin, ranking Dem on House Oversight: “Attorneys for President Biden appear to have taken immediate and proper action to notify the National Archives about their discovery of a small handful of classified documents”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 10, 2023
“Obviously if there are classified documents anywhere they shouldn’t be, that’s a problem and a deep concern,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told CNN.
“The difference is that Biden’s lawyers cooperated & reached out to the National Archives upon discovering the classified documents, unlike Trump & his circle obstructing the investigation into the classified docs at Mar-A-Lago. Regardless, the right will distort this & use it,” Olivia Troye, former homeland security and counterterrorism adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, tweeted.
The difference is that Biden’s lawyers cooperated & reached out to the National Archives upon discovering the classified documents, unlike Trump & his circle obstructing the investigation into the classified docs at Mar-A-Lago. Regardless, the right will distort this & use it.
— Olivia of Troye (@OliviaTroye) January 9, 2023
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The White House has been adamant that Biden is cooperating with the National Archives. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch has been tapped to investigate how the classified documents wound up at the Biden-aligned think tank, per CBS.
Meanwhile, the Trump document ordeal is being examined by special counsel Jack Smith.
