Did the White House try to STOP the Biden documents scandal from going public? Republicans write to Chief of Staff demanding all communications with National Archives over ‘withheld’ statement after first search
- Comer pressed Jeff Zients to release internal communications about the documents
- He forwarded testimony from an Archives lawyer about a statement he wrote
- The statement was not released after the report on the discovery of documents in January
Oversight chairman representative James Comer wants new White House chief of staff Jeff Zients to turn over all communications regarding a National Archives statement that was written — but not released — on the day of a explosive report on documents marked classified in a former office of President Biden. .
Comer made the request in a new letter to Zients, which follows other attempts to try to obtain potentially damaging information from the White House.
This time, he’s armed with information gleaned from the Archives’ chief counsel Gary Stern.
The push comes amid escalating tensions with the White House, which last week lambasted Comer for “despicable” claims that Biden’s late son Hunter should have been indicted.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to the White House, this time seeking more information about a National Archives statement that was drafted but not released when documents marked “classified” were discovered at the center Penn Biden. released
Comer cites testimony, where Stern was asked during an appearance before the Oversight and Accountability Committee whether he had written a statement the day CBS News reported Jan. 9 that documents stored at the Penn Biden Center contained classified documents.
On January 9, 2023, CBS announced that President Biden had stored documents at the Penn Biden Center that were subject to the Presidential Archives Act and also contained classified documents. Did you write a statement in response to this CBS report?
“NARA wrote a statement,” he replied.
“Is it public? Stern was questioned, answering in the negative. When asked who prevented a statement from becoming public, he replied, “Per DOJ guidelines, I’m not supposed to talk about the, you know, content of our communications with other parties.”
Comer addressed the letter to new White House chief of staff Jeff Zients
Letter follows discovery of documents with classified marks at Biden’s home in Wilmington and other developments
The flurry of reports about Biden prompted a second investigation by a special counsel
There was another raid in February at the University of Delaware, where Biden’s Senate documents are kept.
The search for classified documents continues
Comer refers to previous letters which received no substantial response
He quotes the testimony of a lawyer from the Archives
He then said the Archives issued a statement after the Washington Post reported that documents marked classified were discovered at former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago.
“The Committee is concerned about President Biden’s lack of transparency given the serious national security implications of his conduct,” Comer wrote.
The letter the Republican-led panel had taken from previous letters on January 10, 13 and 15, without any production of documents or “substantial response”.
The fight for information from the White House is the last appointment in the vast saga of documents.
Last month, the FBI searched the University of Delaware, Biden’s alma, where many of his Senate records are located.
This followed searches of his Penn Biden office, his Wilmington home and his Rehoboth, Delaware Beach House for additional material.
Separate special advocates appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland are investigating Biden’s document issues as well as the government’s longstanding efforts to retrieve government documents, including documents marked “classified” from former President Donald Trump. .
Comer’s letter says the case raises “further questions regarding the Biden administration’s involvement in suppressing information related to President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.”
The White House has publicly argued the opposite: that the administration is voluntarily complying and being “transparent” about what information comes in. November elections.
Biden said in January, as the story still unfolded, that he had “no regrets” and was “following what the lawyers told me they wanted me to do.”
