Attorney General Merrick Garland detailed the length of the investigation into President Joe Biden’s possible mishandling of classified documents.
Here’s what he said:
November 4, 2022: The Inspector General’s National Archives Office contacted a prosecutor at the Department of Justice in the evening. It told him that the White House had notified the Archives that documents with signs of classification had been identified at the office of the Penn Biden Center for Global Affairs and Engagement in Washington, DC. That office is not authorized to store confidential documents. The prosecutor was also informed that the documents were kept confidential in an Archives facility.
November 9, 2022: The FBI has begun a conformance review of standard protocols to find out whether classified information has been mishandled under federal law.
November 14, 2022: Pursuant to Section 600.2B of the Special Counsel Rules, Garland appointed U.S. Attorney John Lausch Jr. conduct an initial investigation to inform my decision to appoint a special counsel.
“I chose him to conduct the initial investigation because I believe his experience will ensure that it will be done professionally and quickly,” he said.
December 20, 2022: Chairperson Biden’s personal adviser informed Mr. Lausch that additional documents that were classified as classified had been identified in the garage of the presidential residence in Wilmington, Delaware. President Biden’s adviser informed Lausch that those documents were among other files from the president’s time as vice president. The FBI went to the site and secured the documents.
January 5, 2023: Lausch informed Garland of the results of his initial investigation and advised that further investigation be conducted by a special counsel.
“Based on Mr. Lausch’s initial investigation, I conclude that, under the special counsel regulations, the appointment of a special counsel is in the public interest,” Garland said.
In the days since, while Mr. Lausch continued the investigation, the department identified Mr. Hur for appointment to the special counsel.
This morning, President Biden’s personal adviser called Lausch and said that an additional document with signs of classification had been identified at the president’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware.
