FBI Searches Biden Papers at University of Delaware

Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images [via CNN]

The Facts

  • According to a source familiar with the matter, the FBI has conducted two searches at the University of Delaware as part of its investigation into US Pres. Joe Biden's potential mishandling of sensitive government records.

  • Biden, who graduated from the University in 1965, donated over 1.8k boxes of records from his time as US Senator in 2012. Under the terms of the gift, the records are to remain sealed until two years after he retires from public life.


The Spin

Republican narrative

Every link to potentially mishandled classified documents adds to Biden's long list of offenses. If the most recent documents are found to contain classified matters, then we know he’s been illegally handling them for more than a decade. The White House keeps saying it’s taking this case seriously, but the president has voiced no regrets over the matter, and his spokespeople have been stonewalling questions about the investigation.

Democratic narrative

The only similarity between Biden's and Trump’s situations is that both cases involve classified documents. Otherwise, the scenarios are totally different, as Biden has voluntarily informed the DOJ about the discoveries and has cooperated with authorities every step of the way. Trump, however, forced the DOJ to get a warrant and conduct a surprise search — and we still don’t know if all of his documents have been returned.

Cynical narrative

That both Biden and Trump have been called out for possessing documents they shouldn’t have had should shed light on the issue of overclassification, which has increased exorbitantly over the past decade, creating an administrative nightmare. There must be reforms to the flawed classification system.


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