- Biden on Friday scoffed at Trump’s suggestion to declassify documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
- “I just want you to know that I have deciphered everything in the world,” Biden said in a mocking tone.
- Biden’s remarks represent his broadest view of the issue so far since the Mar-a-Lago attack.
President Joe Biden on Friday lashed out at former President Donald Trump after the former commander-in-chief claimed he had previously declassified documents retrieved by the FBI during the Mar-a-Lago raid earlier this month .
Asked by reporters about Trump’s claim that he “just declassified all the documents,” Biden was referring to a string of sensitive documents found at the former president’s South Florida mansion fired assertion.
“I just want you to know that I’ve declassified everything in the world. I’m the president and I can do it — come on,” Biden said shortly before leaving the White House.
“I’m not going to comment. I mean, because I don’t know the details. I don’t even want to know. I’ll let the Justice Department deal with this,” he added.
When Biden was asked if the president could take classified documents home, he suggested it might be fine in certain circumstances.
“It depends on the situation,” he told reporters.
He continued: “For example, in my home, I have a completely safe enclosed space. The PDB I’m taking home with me today. [President’s Daily Brief]. It is locked. There is a person by my side – a soldier. I read it, I locked it up, and handed it over to the military. “
When Biden was asked about the appropriateness of handling such documents without a dedicated domain, he said it would depend on the level of security.
“It’s up to the documentation and it’s up to the security of everything,” he said.
— Recount (@therecount) August 26, 2022
The remarks represent Biden’s most detailed response to the Mar-a-Lago attack to date, as he has previously said he was not informed before the search.
His comments also came shortly after the Justice Department released a heavily redacted affidavit explaining why the FBI requested a search warrant for Trump’s residence.
“There are probable reasons to believe that other documents containing confidential documents [national defense information] Or a record retention-requested presidential record is currently on the premises,” an FBI agent wrote. “There is also a possible reason to believe that evidence of obstruction will be found on the premises.
Biden’s staff stressed that the Justice Department’s investigation is independent of the White House.
White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre made that point again during a briefing on Friday.
“We don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on that,” she said when asked about allegations that Trump mishandled sensitive documents.
“This is an independent investigation that the Department of Justice is leading. The president thinks it’s a very important thing — giving the Department of Justice that independence. We’re just not going to comment,” she added.
Issue Mar-a-Lago search warrant and property listing disclose FBI agents are looking for documents related to possible violations of the Espionage Act, which prohibits the unauthorized removal of defense-related information that could help foreign governments. Trump is also under investigation for alleged obstruction of justice.
While the former president has said documents obtained by agents have been “declassified,” more than a dozen former Trump White House officials have challenged his claims, According to CNN.
