US President Joe Biden Voluntarily Interviewed in Investigation into Classified Documents
Washington, D.C. – United States President Joe Biden was voluntarily interviewed as part of an investigation into the handling of classified documents found at his home and former private office, the White House announced on Monday.
The 80-year-old president was interviewed over a span of two days by Special Counsel Robert Hur, with the final interview concluding on Monday, according to Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office.
The special counsel was appointed by the US attorney general in January to examine the handling of secret files that date back to Biden’s tenure as vice president under President Barack Obama and immediately after.
Special counsels are typically appointed to handle sensitive cases involving political figures or allegations of serious government wrongdoing. They are given more independence than federal investigators to determine whether to bring charges.
The interviews conducted by Hur with President Biden indicate that the investigation, which has been largely conducted behind closed doors, may now be entering its final stages. Biden has expressed surprise over the discovery of classified materials and has stated that he believes it will ultimately be deemed inconsequential. ABC News reported that Hur’s team had previously conducted extensive interviews with Biden’s staff.
“From the beginning, the President and the White House have been cooperating with this investigation,” said Sams in a statement. “We have provided relevant updates publicly, aiming to be transparent while also preserving the integrity of the investigation.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, Biden’s likely Republican opponent in the upcoming presidential election, is separately facing trial over alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office.
The special counsel in that case, Jack Smith, has revealed that Trump allegedly took classified documents to his Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida and refused to return them.
The trial is scheduled to commence in May, and Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
As both investigations continue, the American public waits with anticipation for the outcomes, which could have significant implications for the future of these former presidents.