US President Joe Biden spoke up for the first time Tuesday about the issue of classified materials found in his personal office at the Penn Biden Center. He expressed surprise that they had been located there and said he was fully assisting the Justice Department's investigation.
At the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City, Biden started answering reporter queries with, "Let me get rid of the easy one first," stressing that he takes confidential documents seriously, per Fox News.
The Joe Biden classified documents were uncovered by his lawyers while they were vacating the office, the POTUS said.
According to Richard Sauber, senior counsel to the White House, the Joe Biden classified documents were found on November 2 at the Penn Biden Center and were from during Biden's term as vice president. From the middle of 2017 until the start of the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden utilized the think tank as his office.
In a statement on Monday, Sauber said that the confidential documents were "not the subject of any previous request or inquiry by the archives."
He added that Biden's attorneys had already coordinated with the Justice Department and the National Archives for the proper handling of the highly sensitive Joe Biden classified documents.
US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Trump appointee John Lausch has been enlisted by Attorney General Merrick Garland to analyze the matter.
Biden Defends Handling of the Classified Docs
On Tuesday, the President expressed optimism that the probe on the latest Joe Biden scandal would conclude shortly.
Joe Biden defended how the documents were handled. He noted that they were found "in a box in a locked cabinet or at least a closet." When his lawyers realized that "several classified documents" were in the box, they "immediately called the Archives."
The POTUS remarked, "I was briefed about this discovery and surprised to learn that there were any government records that were taken there to that office, but I don't know what's in the documents," as per Reuters.
He said that his legal team had advised him against investigating the contents of the materials in the Joe Biden scandal.
Some lawmakers have been put in a difficult position as a result of the discovery of secret papers in Biden's old office.
Republicans To Investigate Joe Biden Scandal
CNN reports that Donald Trump has openly encouraged the FBI to search Biden's offices and possibly the White House for mismanaged records, and he has replied with a series of social media postings mocking Biden.
Even though Joe Biden classified documents were discovered in an inappropriate location, many Democrats on Capitol Hill have voiced faith in Biden's ability to handle sensitive government information.
House Republicans, fresh from their electoral victory, have already promised to expand their oversight inquiries to include the Biden records issue, with some considering NARA as a prime target for further investigation.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has written to US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, requesting "an urgent investigation and "damage assessment" of the Joe Biden classified documents situation.
President Joe Biden might be in breach of national security laws after the discovery of secret material, according to a statement released by Turner on Tuesday. These statutes include the Espionage Act and the Presidential Records Act.
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