As of September 27, 2023, federal authorities have conducted interviews with an astounding 100 witnesses, shedding light on concerns surrounding President Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
ABC News reported on Thursday, September 28, 2023, that this federal investigation primarily focuses on the actions of former Biden aides and military personnel, as well as the procedures for handling classified materials during Biden’s tenure.
The interviews have taken place as recently as last week, with some witnesses being summoned for further questioning, underscoring the seriousness of the inquiry.
Special Counsel Robert Hur, a U.S. attorney from the Trump era, is spearheading this investigation. The report highlights instances of carelessness during Biden’s vice presidency, drawing parallels to the FBI’s 2016 decision not to charge Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified material during the presidential election.
Curiously, witnesses who have been interviewed seem to view the improper removal of classified documents from Biden’s office in 2017 as more of an oversight than a deliberate criminal act.
However, the question of whether Biden’s possession of these classified materials constitutes a criminal offense or an inadvertent mistake remains unsettled, as federal law lacks clear distinctions in such cases.
Antony Blinken, the current Secretary of State and a former Biden aide, has also been interviewed as part of the investigation. Investigators have scrutinized email chains dating back to 2010 in an effort to gain context for these exchanges.
Witnesses have faced in-depth inquiries about the use of cabinets and safes, aiming to understand how the vice president acquired, used, and disposed of classified briefing materials.
One noteworthy contrast with the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials is the level of cooperation.
In Biden’s case, when classified material was discovered in his office and home, investigators were promptly alerted, documents were recovered, and Biden appears to have fully cooperated with the investigation. In contrast, Trump faced accusations of obstructing his investigation.
Furthermore, a significant difference lies in the authority to declassify materials. Biden, in his roles as a U.S. senator and vice president, did not possess the authority to declassify materials, while Trump, as president, held such authority.
Despite this distinction, special counsel Jack Smith has charged former President Trump in connection with his possession of classified documents.
In a recent development, Smith’s team admitted to inaccurately filing paperwork, asserting that all evidence had been submitted as required by law. This revelation came to light during the indictment of Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, who was accused of conspiring with Trump to delete surveillance footage from the estate.
This oversight underscores the importance of adhering to the “Brady rule,” which mandates prosecutors to disclose all evidence favorable to the defendant.
