Biden news: President makes first response to classified papers trove as GOP accused Dems of hypocrisy

Discovery of documents cast a shadow over Biden’s visit to Mexico City for three-day summit with counterparts Trudeau and López Obrador

Biden visits U.S.-Mexico border amidst migrant crisis

President Joe Biden’s visit to Mexico was shrouded by news that classified documents from his time as vice president were discovered at a think tank in Washington DC.

After initially dodging questions on the classified papers, the president addressed the issue on Tuesday, saying that he was “surprised” by the find.

“I was surprised to learn there were any government records that were taken there to that office,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know what the documents contain.

Mr Biden’s attorneys confirmed on Monday that they had found the government materials in a private office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in November.

The documents were immediately handed over to the National Archives and the Justice Department launched an investigation.

At least some of the materials are said to include intelligence memos regarding Iran, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and other topics, reported CNN.

The revelation about the documents comes amid a a three-day trip to Mexico where Mr Biden has held meetings with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Biden praised Mr Trudeau for his support and cooperation with the US on international affairs.

“I want to thank you again. You’ve always been there whenever I call, you pick up the phone,” he said.

Key points

• Classified Obama-Biden papers found at think tank, prompting DOJ probe
• Abbott says Biden ‘noncommittal’ on border policy changes
• Biden to meet López Obrador and Justin Trudeau in Mexico today
• Biden takes first presidential trip to US-Mexico border
• Biden and Lula speak after Jan 6-style insurrection rocks Brazil

[11 January 2023 15:00 · John Bowden]

Ex-DHS official lay out differences between Trump’s Mar-a-Lago stash and Biden news

Olivia Troye, a former adviser to Vice President Mike Pence who also worked at the Department of Homeland Security, laid out the differences between Donald Trump’s hoard of documents at Mar-a-Lago and the new discovery of classified materials dating back to Joe Biden’s time as vice president at a DC think tank.

“The difference is that Biden‘s lawyers cooperated & reached out to the National Archives upon discovering the classified documents, unlike Trump & his circle obstructing the investigation into the classified docs at Mar-A-Lago. Regardless, the right will distort this & use it,” she tweeted.