CNN
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FBI agents found additional classified material Friday while searching President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware.
In a statement, the president’s personal attorney, Bob Bauer, said during the nearly 13-hour search on Friday, “The Department of Justice identified the scope of the investigation, which included six items of documents bearing classification marks. We have obtained materials that are believed to be inside.” Some of that came from the president’s service in the Senate, and some from his term as vice president. DOJ also took for further consideration personal handwritten notes from his time as vice president. ”
These six items add to materials previously found at Biden’s Wilmington residence and his personal office.
A federal investigation into Biden’s home, though voluntary, marks an escalation of investigation into the president’s handling of classified documents and will inevitably draw comparisons to his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. right. .
Five months ago, the FBI obtained a search warrant to search Trump’s Mar Arago residence in Florida. Submit confidential documents to the National Archives. The handling of classified Trump material at Mar-a-Lago is also the subject of a special counsel investigation led by Jack Smith.
The search shows that federal agents are moving quickly into classified documents found on Biden’s property. MeIt was overseen by the office of Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney John Rausch, who is responsible for the initial review of the Justice Department investigation.
Mr. Rausch did not request an investigation of Mr. Biden’s assets during the initial review, according to sources familiar with the investigation. He also did not wait for Biden’s team to complete a voluntary search before recommending a special counsel.
Robert Herr, who was appointed just over a week ago, is still transitioning into his role as Special Advisor. A Justice Department spokesperson told CNN, “We expect Special Counsel Herr to join us soon.”
The FBI search was conducted with the consent of the president’s lawyers, said a person familiar with the matter. The FBI has also picked up documents previously found at the mansion, which Biden’s team disclosed last week.
The investigation did not require a search warrant or subpoena, according to people familiar with the matter.
Mr. Bauer said Mr. Biden’s personal attorney team and representatives from the White House attorney’s office were present during the “extensive search,” during which they had “full access” to Mr. Biden’s home.
Bauer added that the DOJ “according to its standard procedure, requested that the investigation not be pre-disclosed and agreed to cooperate.”
The first document was found in Biden’s personal office on November 2nd, but was not made public until earlier this month, when CBS first reported its existence.
Since then, another search in December found “a handful” of classified-marked records in the garage of Biden’s Wilmington mansion, and a third find was made at the Wilmington mansion in January. , Biden’s legal team searched the remaining property for documents. They found them in a room adjacent to the garage.
Bauer said in a Jan. 11 statement that when Biden’s personal lawyers discovered the classified documents, they left them where they were found and suspended a search of the location.
“It turned out that a handful of documents had been filed in the wrong places,” Biden explained Thursday during a tour of California’s storm damage.
“I think you’ll see there’s nothing there. I have no regrets,” Biden continued Thursday.
A special adviser to President Richard Sauber said in a statement that neither Biden nor First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were present during the search.
Sauber wrote that Biden “takes this seriously and is committed to addressing it responsibly,” adding that he and his team “remember that the Department of Justice and the special counsel have been thoroughly investigated.” We are working quickly to ensure we have what we need to conduct a meaningful investigation.”
According to Bauer, during the search, investigators had full access to Biden’s home, which included “personally handwritten notes, files, papers, binders, memorabilia, to-do lists, schedules, decades of Also included a previous reminder.
Biden is spending the weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Asked by the Associated Press on Friday whether the visit had anything to do with documents found in Biden’s Wilmington home, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called reporters to the White House attorney’s office and the Justice Department. , but Biden said he “frequently travels” to Delaware on weekends. ”
This story has been updated with additional reports.
