Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson suggested the classified documents found in President Biden’s garage may have been “planted” there.
“Alleged secret documents allegedly owned by Joseph Biden are emerging… I am suspicious of the timing,” the Georgia congressman told Fox News.
On Thursday, the White House confirmed that a second trove of classified documents had been found at the President’s private residence in Wilmington, Delaware.
“I’m also aware of the fact that things can be planted on people…Things can be planted in places and then conveniently discovered. That may have happened here. I don’t rule that out. But I’m open about the investigation that needs to be looked into,” Johnson continued.
“Alleged classified documents allegedly owned by Joseph Biden are emerging…I am suspicious of the timing,” Rep. Hank Johnson said
President Biden previously admitted the documents were in his garage and made no allegations of foul play.
“So the documents were in a locked garage?” Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked the president earlier.
“Yes, along with my corvette,” he replied.
President Biden’s attorneys conducted searches of his Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach homes after it was revealed this week that classified documents from the Obama White House were leaked on March 2.
Democrats have largely avoided direct criticism of Biden’s documents. Rep. Adam Schiff, former Intel chairman, said that anytime classified documents are found where they shouldn’t be is cause for “concern.”
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Thursday, “I have complete confidence and appreciation in President Biden.”
“I believe he is doing everything possible to take the appropriate steps to determine what happened and how to move forward in a responsible manner,” Jeffries continued. “And I am confident that he will continue to do so.”
The White House said the first find of documents was found days before the midterm elections when they were clearing the offices and immediately turned over to the National Archives.
Biden said he was “surprised” to learn about the initial documents and didn’t know what they contained.
“I was informed of this discovery and was surprised to learn that there were any government documents that were brought there to that office,” Biden added. “But I don’t know what the documents say. My lawyers have not suggested that I ask what the documents are.”
Joe Biden tweets video of himself with his classic 1967 Corvette Stingray – which was in the same garage as documents
Also on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the classified documents — Robert Hur, a former federal prosecutor appointed by Trump.
The announcement came as Republicans urged Garland to hold the same standard for Biden as he did for former President Trump — Garland appointed a special attorney to oversee the Trump investigation in November.
Garland’s announcement came as pressure mounted on the White House to explain how the documents were in Biden’s possession, why their existence was only announced after the midterm elections, and what was being done about it.
“We are confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced, and the President and his attorneys acted immediately upon discovering this error,” White House special counsel Richard Sauber said in a statement to Hurs Appointment.
This could mark a major turning point in Biden’s presidency. He has so far stayed away from legal troubles, even as Republicans have targeted his son Hunter Biden’s dealings and set up a special committee to investigate the federal government’s “weapons.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate classified documents in Biden’s possession
Robert K. Hur, 50, served as US Attorney for the District of Maryland from 2018 to 2021—appointed to the position by Donald Trump
Timeline of discovery of Biden documents and initial investigation
November 2: 10 classified documents were found at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank in Washington, DC, by President Joe Biden’s attorneys.
Nov 3: The National Archives were notified of the discovery
November 4: The Office of the Inspector General of the National Archives contacted a Justice Department prosecutor and informed him that classified material had been discovered at the Penn Biden Center. The documents were secured in an archive facility
November 8: 2022 midterm elections
Nov 9: The FBI began an evaluation to determine if classified material had been mishandled
November 14: Attorney General Merrick Garland hired US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to determine whether a special counsel was needed
12/20: The President’s personal attorney tells Lausch that more classified documents were found in Biden’s garage in Wilmington, Delaware. The FBI seized these documents
January 5: Lausch advised Garland to appoint a special counsel
Jan. 9: The White House announces publicly classified documents from Biden’s time as vice president found in the office of his DC think tank
January 12: The President’s personal attorney informed Lausch that another document had been discovered at Biden’s Wilmington home
Jan. 12: The White House publicly announces that more classified documents have been found at Biden’s Wilmington home
In his brief statement Thursday, Garland revealed a detailed timeline of when the documents were originally discovered and how the Justice Department’s initial investigation began.
In total, three classified materials were discovered – at the Penn-Biden Center, a think tank in Washington, DC; in Biden’s garage at his home in Wilmington, Delaware; and an additional discovery at Biden’s Wilmington home.
Garland said the archives notified the Justice Department of the initial discovery on Nov. 4 and the FBI launched an investigation five days later.
On November 14, Garland hired US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, John Lausch, to determine whether a special counsel was needed. Lausch would eventually make such a recommendation.
On December 20, Biden’s personal attorney, Lausch, said more files were found in Biden’s Wilmington garage.
The Justice Department was briefed on the third discovery Thursday morning — the same day as the special counsel’s announcement and the same day the White House announced that additional classified materials in Biden’s possession were found at his Wilmington home.
Garland said Thursday that Hur was authorized to “investigate whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with the classified documents.”
“I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial and dispassionate judgment. I intend to pursue the facts swiftly and thoroughly, without fear or favoritism, and will honor the trust placed in me to provide this service,” Hur said in a statement released after announcing his appointment.
Garland emphasized Hur’s independence.
“A special counsel is not placed under the day-to-day supervision of a department official. But he has to abide by the department’s rules, procedures and policies,” he said.
Hur, 50, served as the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland from 2018 to 2021. He previously served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.
Trump appointed Hur to be Maryland’s chief police officer.