What We Know: AG Garland appoints Special Counsel to investigate classified docs found at Biden home and office

United States Attorney General  Merrick Garland announced on Thursday that he has appointed Special Counsel Robert Hur to oversee the investigation into the classified documents found in various places at President Biden’s private offices and residence.

The documents, which are dated from Biden’s time as vice president during the Obama administration. The first batch was found in November, days ahead of the 2022 midterm election, at which time Biden attorneys notified the National Archives and turned the documents over. 

Another batch of documents was found in December in the garage of Biden’s Delaware residence, and one more classified document was found this week inside the Biden home.

A third set of documents was also found on Saturday, also in his Delaware home.

Garland made the announcement about appointing Hur on Thursday afternoon, the same day the third set of documents was discovered. 

Asked by reporters during a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared unable to answer specific questions about the documents, telling reporters the White House is cooperating fully with the probe.

“As the President said, he takes classified information and materials seriously. And as we have said, we have cooperated from the moment we informed the Archives that a small number of documents were found, and we will continue to cooperate,” said Jean-Pierre.

“We have cooperated closely with the Justice Department throughout its review, and we will continue that cooperation with the special counsel. We are confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced and the president and his lawyers acted promptly upon discovering of this mistake.”