Several additional classified official documents have been found in Joe Biden’s private home in recent days.
It comes after last week’s revelations that classified documents were found in his former office last November.
Classified documents are top secret and often contain sensitive material. These documents are from his time as Vice President. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has appointed a Special Counsel to investigate.
The documents
In November, classified documents were discovered in Biden’s former office. The DOJ was notified.
In December, Biden’s lawyers informed the DOJ more documents had been found at Biden’s personal home in Delaware.
In January, after the discovery of the documents first became public, the DOJ appointed a ‘special counsel’ (independent investigator).
The DOJ has since been notified of six more documents found in Biden’s home.
Legal implications
The removal of classified documents from the National Archives is an offence under the Espionage Act. It is also an offence to conceal or destroy classified documents. These laws apply to presidents and vice presidents. However, for any penalty to apply, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must decide to bring forward a prosecution.
It is not suggested Biden sought to conceal any documents. Biden has said previously he was “surprised” by the discoveries and did not know what the documents contain. He is co-operating with the DOJ’s investigation.
Republican response
Republicans have so far focused more on the handling of the case by the DOJ than on the documents themselves.
Republican Congressman James Comer, who leads the House Oversight and Accountability Committee said his “biggest concern isn’t the classified documents… [it’s the] discrepancy in how former President Trump was treated” when classified documents were discovered at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Trump is being investigated by the DOJ for both taking and seeking to conceal hundreds of classified documents.
Comer has asked to see the visitor logs from Biden’s house, but says he will not make the same request for Mar-a-Lago.
“I don’t feel like we need to spend a whole lot of time investigating President Trump because the Democrats have done that for the past six years,” he said.
“No one’s been investigated more than Donald Trump. Who hasn’t been investigated? Joe Biden.”
