Obama Refuses To Answer One Question About His Classified Docs

Classified documents now have been discovered at the home of former vice president Mike Pence, which is an unfolding story. Pence has stated that he was unaware of the documents in his possession, and is cooperating with the FBI.

Speculation about the rash of document discovery and the differences between the cases is full of partisan and legal opinions.

The New York Times reported that prosecuting Donald Trump for mishandling files could be complicated by Joe Biden’s own classified chaos.

“Politically it has effectively let former President Donald J. Trump off the hook for hoarding secret papers,” wrote Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Some legal experts have now concluded that Biden’s clumsy handling of the classified material could make prosecuting Trump harder – even though the cases appear to be very different.

Now the question of document possession extends to other former presidents. Barack Obama’s spokesperson refused on Tuesday to say whether the former president was searching his homes for classified documents. Obama’s communications director, Hannah Hankins, was asked on Tuesday by Fox News whether he too was searching his homes. “We have nothing for you at this time,” she told the channel.

But today, representatives for former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have responded to questions about their own possession of documents, and stated that they “turned over their classified records to the National Archives upon leaving office” CNN reports.

CNN noted that “None of the former president’s representatives said they were conducting additional searches of homes or offices where documents could potentially be stored”.

Bearing testament to the partisan nature of the situation, David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to Obama, told Baker that although Trump’s actions and Biden’s were dramatically different, “in the court of public opinion” they may be perceived as equal. A poll shows American voters believe both Biden and Trump are at fault – although most concede that Trump’s actions were more “egregious” Daily Mail reported. Among those surveyed by ABC News and Ipsos, 77 percent said Trump acted inappropriately in handling classified documents, and 64 percent said Biden had.

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS showed that more than 8 in 10 Americans approve of the appointment of a special counsel to investigate classified documents found in President Biden’s possession. that poll finds broad approval across party lines for the appointment, with 88% of Republicans, 84% of Independents and 80% of Democrats saying they approve of it.

An ABC News-Ipsos poll, published on Sunday, found that 64% of those polled said Biden’s handling of classified documents after his vice presidency was inappropriate.

Trump has responded to the differences between the instances of document possession telling supporters at a rally last week that he was ‘being persecuted’ by a “Trump-deranged” special prosecutor – while Biden “is being given white-glove treatment.” Trump has posted on social media, “They created this Documents mess for themselves by being so totally DERANGED about me, and I did NOTHING WRONG!”

It has also been pointed out that in Biden’s case, it is his own administration that is investigating his possession of documents.

Stanley M. Brand, a Washington DC lawyer who previously served as general counsel to the House of Representatives, told the paper that Trump could well challenge the process. “There is also the issue of selective prosecution: treating similar cases differently based on a suspect classification or criteria,” said Brand, adding that Merrick Garland, the attorney general, was now in the complicated position of being appointed by Biden and overseeing the special counsel investigating him. “I would allege that as an appointee of the president, he is conflicted,” he said. “A conflict that can’t be resolved by appointment of a special counsel, since under the D.O.J. regulation he retains ultimate responsibility,” Daily Mail quoted.

now have been discovered at the home of former vice president Mike Pence, which is an unfolding story. Pence has stated that he was unaware of the documents in his possession, and is cooperating with the FBI.

Speculation about the rash of document discovery and the differences between the cases is full of partisan and legal opinions.

The New York Times reported that prosecuting Donald Trump for mishandling files could be complicated by Joe Biden’s own classified chaos.

“Politically it has effectively let former President Donald J. Trump off the hook for hoarding secret papers,” wrote Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Some legal experts have now concluded that Biden’s clumsy handling of the classified material could make prosecuting Trump harder – even though the cases appear to be very different.

Now the question of document possession extends to other former presidents. Barack Obama’s spokesperson refused on Tuesday to say whether the former president was searching his homes for classified documents. Obama’s communications director, Hannah Hankins, was asked on Tuesday by Fox News whether he too was searching his homes. “We have nothing for you at this time,” she told the channel.

But today, representatives for former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have responded to questions about their own possession of documents, and stated that they “turned over their classified records to the National Archives upon leaving office” CNN reports.

CNN noted that “None of the former president’s representatives said they were conducting additional searches of homes or offices where documents could potentially be stored”.

Bearing testament to the partisan nature of the situation, David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to Obama, told Baker that although Trump’s actions and Biden’s were dramatically different, “in the court of public opinion” they may be perceived as equal. A poll shows American voters believe both Biden and Trump are at fault – although most concede that Trump’s actions were more “egregious” Daily Mail reported. Among those surveyed by ABC News and Ipsos, 77 percent said Trump acted inappropriately in handling classified documents, and 64 percent said Biden had.

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS showed that more than 8 in 10 Americans approve of the appointment of a special counsel to investigate classified documents found in President Biden’s possession. that poll finds broad approval across party lines for the appointment, with 88% of Republicans, 84% of Independents and 80% of Democrats saying they approve of it.

An ABC News-Ipsos poll, published on Sunday, found that 64% of those polled said Biden’s handling of classified documents after his vice presidency was inappropriate.

Trump has responded to the differences between the instances of document possession telling supporters at a rally last week that he was ‘being persecuted’ by a “Trump-deranged” special prosecutor – while Biden “is being given white-glove treatment.” Trump has posted on social media, “They created this Documents mess for themselves by being so totally DERANGED about me, and I did NOTHING WRONG!”

It has also been pointed out that in Biden’s case, it is his own administration that is investigating his possession of documents.

Stanley M. Brand, a Washington DC lawyer who previously served as general counsel to the House of Representatives, told the paper that Trump could well challenge the process. “There is also the issue of selective prosecution: treating similar cases differently based on a suspect classification or criteria,” said Brand, adding that Merrick Garland, the attorney general, was now in the complicated position of being appointed by Biden and overseeing the special counsel investigating him. “I would allege that as an appointee of the president, he is conflicted,” he said. “A conflict that can’t be resolved by appointment of a special counsel, since under the D.O.J. regulation he retains ultimate responsibility,” Daily Mail quoted.