Status: 01/13/2023 02:50 a.m
More secret documents were found in the garage of US President Biden’s house. The Ministry of Justice is now using a special investigator to clarify how the documents are handled. For Biden, the issue is becoming more and more politically sensitive.
The Fox News reporter is shocked about the find in the garage: “Secret material right next to your luxury classic car, your Corvette?” he asks the US President.
Joe Biden first tries to joke: “My Corvette is in a locked garage. It’s not like it’s on the street.” Biden then assures that he is of course taking the case very seriously – and is fully cooperating with the Justice Department’s review.
However, he also concedes: In the course of this investigation, which has now been completed, a few more documents were found in his personal library.
Special investigators are to provide answers after finding secret documents in US President Biden’s private home
Torben Börgers, ARD Washington, daily topics 10:15 p.m., January 12, 2023
“Garage Gate” or is everything not so bad?
Secret documents at three different locations, discovered over a period of several months, only the facts that had already been brought to light by the US media confirmed bit by bit: the Fox reporter speaks of “garage gate” – and asks Biden’s spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre: “What is the White House trying to hide?” – “Nothing!” replies Jean-Pierre. And repeats again and again that Biden behaved completely correctly and transparently. By his lawyers immediately involved the National Archives and the Department of Justice.
The pressure is mounting, including on Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland. For months, Republicans have been accusing him of politically abusing his office – mainly because of the investigation into ex-President Trump. Garland is trying to put as much distance as possible between his ministry and the investigation – and has now appointed a special counsel. Robert Hur, a veteran Maryland prosecutor who was appointed by Biden’s predecessor Trump, is now tasked with investigating whether laws have been broken.
This appointment shows the public that this ministry is committed to independence and accountability, especially in the most sensitive investigations – and that its decisions are based only on facts and the law.
Lawyer Robert Hur is to clarify the affair surrounding the find of secret files at Biden on behalf of the US Department of Justice.
Image: AP
Republicans are sharply critical
But that’s not what Republicans want to believe. For Kevin McCarthy, newly elected speaker, i.e. President of the House of Representatives, the differences in dealing with the events are obvious: With Biden, the finds and investigations were kept secret for weeks, with Trump, on the other hand, even pictures of the raid in Mar-a-Lago were taken by the FBI released.
Where are the photos of Biden’s documents. He knew that was going to happen, even before the elections. And that’s why Americans don’t trust their government. You can’t have a different interpretation of the law for people with whom you disagree philosophically. And you can’t use your Justice Department to then go after these people.
The Republicans want to investigate the process themselves in Congress – by the end of January, the White House should deliver the relevant documents. So things remain uncomfortable for Biden and his Democrats. Most have remained silent so far – or defend their president rather half-heartedly, like Hakim Jeffries, the new parliamentary group leader in the House of Representatives.
He does not yet know all the facts, said the Democrat when asked. But he has full confidence in Biden.