WASHINGTON — The FBI found an additional six items with classified material from President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Del. during an all-day search Friday of his private residence, according to the president’s lawyers.
The search, which began at 9:45 am. Friday and ended around 10:30 p.m. the same day, turned up classified documents from Biden’s time as vice president and in the U.S. Senate, Bob Bauer, Biden’s personal attorney, said in a statement Saturday.
The revelation adds to a self-inflicted White House crisis that’s prompted a special counsel investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents and undercut the president’s political momentum.
The 13-hour search took place after Biden’s legal team gave the Justice Department access to the president’s home upon finding an initial batch of classified documents there earlier this month.
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Department of Justice says FBI conducted a ‘consensual search’
Bauer said the Justice Department was given “full access” to the home including personally handwritten notes, files, papers, binders, memorabilia, to-do lists, schedules and reminders that go back “decades.”
Investigators took possession of “six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials” from Biden’s time as vice president and a U.S. senator, Bauer said. Personally handwritten notes from Biden’s vice presidential years were also seized.
A spokesman for the Justice Department said “the FBI executed a planned, consensual search” of Biden’s home.
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Biden at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware vacation home
Biden left the White House Friday evening for Rehoboth Beach, Del., where he’s spending the weekend at his vacation home.
In an agreement with the Justice Department, representatives of Biden’s personal legal team and the White House’s legal counsel were present during the search. Biden was not present.
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“The President and his team are working swiftly to ensure DOJ and the Special Counsel have what they need to conduct a thorough review,” Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, said in a statement.
Bauer said the Justice Department requested that the search not be made public in advance.
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Biden classified documents
Saturday’s announcement was the fourth time the White House or Biden’s personal attorneys have disclosed finding classified documents at locations tied to Biden. The president’s lawyers have not said how many documents have been discovered in all.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, Robert Hur, to investigate Biden’s handling of the classified documents. In addition, the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Accountability launched its own investigation.
Biden told reporters Thursday he has “no regrets” that he didn’t reveal the first discovery of classified documents in November, shortly before the midterm elections.
“We’re fully cooperating and looking forward to getting this resolved quickly,” Biden said. “I think you’re going to find there’s nothing there.”
An initial batch of about 10 classified documents was found Nov. 2 in the president’s former office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington. Biden’s lawyers have said they immediately notified the National Archives and Justice Department.
Six other documents were found earlier this month in a room adjacent to Biden’s garage in the Wilmington home after an undisclosed number of documents were discovered on Dec. 20 inside the garage.
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Josh Meyer
