In a Rarity, the FBI Doesn’t Find Classified Docs When Searching a Biden Property

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI did not find any documents with classified markings during a search for President Joe Biden’s Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home, according to his lawyer.

Bob Bauer, the president’s personal attorney, stated that the search took about three hours.

He also said that the Department of Justice received other materials and handwritten note from Biden’s vice presidency time for further review.

This latest search was the result of a FBI 13-hour top-to-bottom inspection of his Wilmington, Delaware home. Agents found documents with classified markings that date back to his time as vice president and senator, and also took some of his handwritten notes.

Biden’s personal attorneys had disclosed that they had discovered a document with classified markings during their search of Wilmington property, but they did not find others in a separate inspection at the Rehoboth Beach residence.

The White House didn’t disclose the Justice Department investigation until last month when it acknowledged that the Nov. 2, discovery of a shady deal was made. “small number” Biden lawyers used classified documents to close an office at Penn Biden Center, a think-tank affiliated with the Ivy League school.

Although officials didn’t say it at the time of the incident, The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the FBI had performed a voluntary search in that office late in November.

The Justice Department did not comment on Wednesday’s search.

Biden’s lawyers have described the retention of the records as a “mistake.” The Justice Department has traditionally brought criminal charges for mishandling classified records. This is because it can prove, among others, that the person improperly removed or stored sensitive records.

Robert Hur, an ex-chief federal prosecutor in Baltimore, is currently handling the Biden documents investigation. This week, he will begin his work after inheriting a lengthy investigation that was conducted by FBI agents and Justice Department officials.

Attorney General Merrick Galrland had asked John Lausch (the U.S. attorney) to review the initial situation before Hur was announced last month.

Special counsel Jack Smith is also investigating the retention by Trump approximately 300 documents that had classified markings and were taken from Mar-a-Lago to the White House. This investigation preceded the Biden probe. After what the Justice Department claimed was months of resistance from Trump and his representatives to returning the records to the government, agents obtained a search warrant last August to recover classified documents.

Investigators involved in the Biden investigation have already conducted interviews with Biden’s former executive advisor, which included the interview of the person who oversaw the packing of the boxes that were delivered to the Penn Biden Center. It is unknown when or if the Justice Department will ask Biden to answer questions.

After he had resigned from the vice presidency, the Bidens bought the Rehoboth Beach house that overlooks the state park.