US politics
Document affair: No prosecution against Biden
According to media reports, the investigation against Biden in the affair surrounding the discovery of secret government documents in private rooms has been completed. photo
© Jacquelyn Martin/AP/dpa
About a year ago, government documents from his time as vice president were discovered in Joe Biden’s private rooms. This doesn’t have criminal law consequences – but perhaps political ones.
The affair surrounding the discovery of secret government documents in the US President’s private rooms Joe Biden has no legal repercussions for the Democrat. “We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter,” said special counsel Robert Hur’s report, released in Washington.
At the end of 2022, classified information from Biden’s time as vice president was discovered in various locations, including in private offices in the capital Washington and in Biden’s house in Wilmington, Delaware. However, the report contains explosive assessments of his mental state, which could have a serious political impact on him during the election campaign.
Politically extremely sensitive for Biden
The finds were politically extremely sensitive for the Democrat, as his Republican predecessor Donald Trump had caused a scandal with a similar case – and has to answer in court for his handling of documents. Both Biden and Trump want to run again in the US presidential election in November.
Presidents and vice presidents are required to turn over secret documents to the National Archives after leaving office. They are not allowed to privately store confidential government records after leaving government. Biden was President Barack Obama’s deputy from 2009 to 2017 before he moved into the White House as number one in the state at the beginning of 2021.
Confidential documents in private rooms
About a year ago, several tranches of confidential documents from Biden’s time as vice president appeared in the Democrat’s private rooms – including in the garage of his home in Wilmington. Initially, employees came across documents, later investigators were called in and searched rooms in various locations. Attorney General Merrick Garland ultimately appointed the special counsel to investigate the sensitive allegations.
His report now said that the investigation had shown that after his vice presidency, Biden “intentionally retained and disclosed classified materials while he was a private citizen.” However, the evidence did not prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There are “mitigating factors.” In the report, Biden is characterized, among other things, as an “older man with poor memory.” In the current presidential election campaign, the Democrat is already struggling with the debate about his old age, which is fueling doubts about his suitability for the powerful office.
Strong criticism of information policy
Biden and the White House came under heavy criticism for their information policy in the case. The government headquarters initially only commented very sparingly on the allegations. The public only found out about some finds when the media reported on them. Biden also drew some displeasure with his succinct statements. After the sensational discovery in his garage in Wilmington – where his vintage Corvette is also parked – he said when asked by reporters: “My Corvette is in a locked garage, okay.” It’s not as if the documents were lying on the street.
The document discoveries were also explosive for Biden because Trump had caused a huge stir with a similar case and has since been indicted for illegally storing highly sensitive information from his time as president (2017 to 2021). The Republican is accused of storing highly classified government documents from his time in office at his private Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and not returning them when requested. The 77-year-old is also charged with conspiring to obstruct the investigation. Trump pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to start on May 20th. Trump is facing three more criminal cases in the middle of the election year. Biden had sharply criticized Trump’s handling of secret documents before documents were found on him.