Karine Jean-Pierre WILL NOT say when Biden learned of classified documents at the DC office or say why the discovery was only revealed now, as she dodges questions and complains of “confrontation” by reporters pushing for answers
- Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to share with reporters Wednesday when President Joe Biden was briefed on the discovery of classified documents
- She also didn’t want to say why the revelation was kept from the public until this week
- She told CBS’s Ed O’Keefe, “We don’t need that kind of confrontation,” after saying she couldn’t provide any information because of the ongoing DOJ review
- O’Keefe asked her if the information wouldn’t be disclosed immediately because “the election was only a few days away?”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to tell reporters Wednesday when President Joe Biden was briefed on the discovery of classified documents in an old DC office, or say why the disclosure was withheld from the public until this week.
She told CBS’s Ed O’Keefe, “We don’t need that kind of confrontation,” after repeatedly saying she couldn’t give journalists details because the documents were being reviewed by the Justice Department.
One of the questions O’Keefe asked the secretary was why it took more than two months after the documents were discovered for the White House office to reveal this to the American people.
“Why didn’t he or anyone in the White House inform the American people when these documents were discovered on November 2?” asked O’Keefe. “You had nothing to do with – because people ask that part of it – anything to do with the election being just days away?”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to tell reporters Wednesday when President Joe Biden was briefed on the discovery of classified documents in an old DC office, or say why the disclosure was withheld from the public until this week
CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe asked Wednesday whether the discovery of classified documents in Biden’s old DC office on Nov. 2 hadn’t been announced immediately, with the midterms just days away
Jean-Pierre stuck to her answer.
“This too is currently under review by the Justice Department,” she said.
She pointed to the White House office in case O’Keefe wanted a more informed answer.
“Then we welcome you to the briefing room and hope you can come over soon to discuss this,” the CBS reporter said. “But here’s another thing, there was nothing to stop the President of the United States from disclosing the discovery of these classified documents in his former office before they were reviewed by the Justice Department.”
‘Then why didn’t he disclose it?’ O’Keefe squeezed.
Jean-Pierre said the only thing she could share was what the president said Tuesday in Mexico City – that he was “surprised” by the discovery and that he “takes classified documents very seriously”.
At one point, O’Keefe said the journalists in the room keep asking these questions “because it’s our job.” “So you’re the one here that’s talking to us about this, that’s why we’re asking you, so let’s just remember that,” he added.
“And what I can tell you is that I will not go beyond what the President has set forth. I will not go beyond what my colleagues on the White House Council have said,” Jean-Pierre replied. “We don’t need that – we work very well together – we don’t need that kind of confrontation.”
“You don’t have to contradict me here, Ed,” she added.
Jean-Pierre again pointed to the Justice Department’s review when O’Keefe asked if the president had requested a damage assessment from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, as some senior Republicans had requested.
“The Justice Department doesn’t care about national security,” O’Keefe scoffed in response.