BREAKING: Attorney General Merrick Garland Launches Review of Classified Documents Found at Penn Biden Center in Washington
Submitted by MAGA
Posted 69 days ago
President Joe Biden is facing new scrutiny over classified documents that were found at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington, D.C. just before the midterm elections.
"The classified material was identified by personal attorneys for Mr. Biden on Nov. 2, just before the midterm elections," confirmed Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president.
The documents, which are from the president's vice-presidential office, were discovered "when Mr. Biden's personal attorneys 'were packing files housed in a locked closet to prepare to vacate office space at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D. C.,'" Sauber said in a statement.
The roughly 10 documents were contained in a folder within a box of unclassified papers, according to sources. It is not clear what the classified documents contain or what level of classification they hold, though a source familiar with the matter assured that they do not contain nuclear secrets.
Sauber also revealed that on the same day the material was discovered, the White House counsel's office notified the National Archives, which took possession of the materials the following morning.
Now, Attorney General Merrick Garland has assigned U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to investigate how the classified material ended up at the Penn Biden Center. This review is seen as a preliminary step, and Garland will decide whether further investigation, including potentially appointing a special counsel, is necessary.
Lausch, who was nominated for his position by former President Donald Trump, is expected to submit a final report to Garland soon.
It is worth noting that the Penn Biden Center is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and is located just a mile from the White House.
The Presidential Records Act requires that all presidential and vice-presidential documents be turned over to the National Archives, with special protocols in place to secure classified information.
According to a source familiar with the matter, representatives from the National Archives then notified the Justice Department. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is also reportedly aware of the Justice Department's inquiry.
It is not clear whether President Biden is aware of the contents of the classified documents, as he only learned of their presence when his lawyer reported them to the White House counsel's office in November.
This case bears striking similarities to the Justice Department's pursuit of former President Donald Trump's presidential records. However, it remains to be seen whether this review will garner the same level of attention and outrage.
Source: cbsnews.com
"The classified material was identified by personal attorneys for Mr. Biden on Nov. 2, just before the midterm elections," confirmed Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president.
The documents, which are from the president's vice-presidential office, were discovered "when Mr. Biden's personal attorneys 'were packing files housed in a locked closet to prepare to vacate office space at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D. C.,'" Sauber said in a statement.
The roughly 10 documents were contained in a folder within a box of unclassified papers, according to sources. It is not clear what the classified documents contain or what level of classification they hold, though a source familiar with the matter assured that they do not contain nuclear secrets.
Sauber also revealed that on the same day the material was discovered, the White House counsel's office notified the National Archives, which took possession of the materials the following morning.
Now, Attorney General Merrick Garland has assigned U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to investigate how the classified material ended up at the Penn Biden Center. This review is seen as a preliminary step, and Garland will decide whether further investigation, including potentially appointing a special counsel, is necessary.
Lausch, who was nominated for his position by former President Donald Trump, is expected to submit a final report to Garland soon.
It is worth noting that the Penn Biden Center is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and is located just a mile from the White House.
The Presidential Records Act requires that all presidential and vice-presidential documents be turned over to the National Archives, with special protocols in place to secure classified information.
According to a source familiar with the matter, representatives from the National Archives then notified the Justice Department. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is also reportedly aware of the Justice Department's inquiry.
It is not clear whether President Biden is aware of the contents of the classified documents, as he only learned of their presence when his lawyer reported them to the White House counsel's office in November.
This case bears striking similarities to the Justice Department's pursuit of former President Donald Trump's presidential records. However, it remains to be seen whether this review will garner the same level of attention and outrage.
Source: cbsnews.com
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