Joe Biden speaks to press. Source : Picryl
A special counsel has been appointed to investigate confidential documents kept by Joe Biden from his Vice Presidency.
Robert Hur was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland as the special counsel.
This comes after a second lot of documents was found in his possession, stored in the garage of his home.
Mr Garland described the events that led to the initial investigation in an announcement.
“On the evening of November 4, 2022, the National Archives office of Inspector General contacted a prosecutor at the Department of Justice and informed him that the White House had notified the archives that documents bearing classification markings were identified at the office of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement…” Mr Garland said.
“That office was not authorised for storage of classified documents.
“The prosecutor was also advised that those documents had been secured in an archives facility.
“On December 20, President Biden’s personal counsel informed [U.S. Attorney Lausch] that additional documents bearing classification markings were identified in the garage of the President’s private residence in Wilmington, Delaware.” He said.
Mr Garland went on to state that President Biden’s personal counsel informed Mr Lausch, who was appointed in the initial investigation, that the documents were from his terms as Vice President with former President Barack Obama.
Mr Hur said he would conduct the investigation without bias to ensure the best possible results, and the most accurate information brought forward.
“I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgement.” Mr Hur said.
“I intend to follow the facts swiftly and thoroughly, without fear or favour, and will honour the trust placed in me to perform this service.” He said.
The investigation is regarding President Biden’s alleged involvement in taking the classified documents to his home, or his office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, where they were not permitted to be.
Mr Hur will examine 10 classified documents found at the Penn Biden Center, of which includes intelligence memos and materials marked as Top Secret.
