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© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Garland appoints special counsel to investigate Biden documents
By ZEKE MILLER and ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
93 Comments
Nemo
I think this is a necessary step that will turn out to be every bit as impactful as the Durham Special Counsel (2 acquittals, 1 dismissal and a no prison plea deal), and it will not remove the criminal liability from Dotard.
tooheysnew
Just Seems like a vindictive spiteful response from the republicans out for some payback.
dagon
Biden didn't accuse the JD and FBI of being "deep state" and suffering from Biden Derangement Syndrome?
No,"this is a witch hunt and the greatest persecution any President has ever suffered in the 500 years of the Great Republic of the United States"?
Biden has a lot to learn about making meaningless equivalencies, psychological projection and playing the victim to his base.
Strangerland
Biden - we found these documents I'm not supposed to have, and are turning them in.
Trump - I got nothing. No, I really got nothing. I swear I got nothing. Here is an affidavit swearing I got nothing. Oh those things? WITCHHUNT!
bass4funk
Nor Biden it would seem as this thing grows in spectrum.
Strangerland
Just Seems like a vindictive spiteful response from the republicans out for some payback.
It's not. Garland is a Democrat, and appointed by Biden. However, the AG role is non-partisan, and it's their responsibility to investigate any potential lawbreaking that comes their way, as well as their discrepancy to determine if anything is prosecutable. Garland is putting this to a 3rd party to remove bias, same as he did with Trump.
In a nation of law, no one is above the law. If Biden did something wrong deserving of punishment, there is no reason he should escape that.
Nemo
If only he hadn’t hidden them, ignored a subpoena and obstructed Justice….
Oh wait. He didn’t! That was the cult leader!
And that’s why Jack Smith is going to indict and whomever this one is is not.
Strangerland
Biden didn't obstruct and swear with an affidavit that he had no documents.
Just like Nixon, it's the lies and the coverup that will sink Trump. I guess he just needs to learn a lesson from Biden. Once again Biden is schooling Trump.
bass4funk
If that were the case, there wouldn’t be need for appointing a SC.
Either both men are indicted or none. There is no way that Garland can indict one and exonerate the other for the essentially the same thing and he knows this. Either we have one system or a two tier system.
Nemo
And now the GQP has had its best talking point removed.
“Rant scream demand! Righteous INDIGNATION!”
”Im sorry congressman/senator, the DOJ has named a special counsel in that matter and I cannot comment on it. Oh, btw, they are not subject to congressional oversight since they work for the DOJ. But by all means continue to rant as you pound sand.”
And when the SC returns felony indictments on Dotard but none on Biden, “That was the SC’s decision after careful consideration and I have no comment.”
Congratulations, GQP rubes.
bass4funk
When federal authorities last August discovered classified documents at former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, Joe said he couldn't understand "how anyone could be that irresponsible."Joe said in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes. "Totally irresponsible."Ah, Karma. It turns out Biden was also describing himself.
Strangerland
Why would Biden be indicted for obstruction of justice? He hasn't obstructed.
Nemo
Since there are 2 separate SC’s looking at TWO VERY DIFFERENT sets of circumstances, that is exactly what is very likely to happen.
And you say both or none like it’s some kind of leverage.
I don’t agree but talking your path everyone says “Both.”
You fail to understand that only the GQP side is so craven that it shies away from consequences if there is actual wrongdoing . (It’s how you justify a sniveling weasel like Santos.)
If there’s that much evidence, then by all means, let’s hold both to account.
I know who is most likely to come out the other side with a felony conviction, and it’s “not Biden.”
bass4funk
Fantasy Island. Lol! So either both men go down or both men come out of this unscathed.
Exactly, especially now that we know Biden was in his possession and the DOJ knew this 5 days before the midterms and are now coming out with this? Yeah, Garland lost on this plan of getting Trump when his boss did the exact same thing.
Well, you mean: Garland, but yeah, good on the GOP to push for more oversight.
Strangerland
Only in the delusions of far-right extremist false equivalencies. Meanwhile back in the real world I'm going to laugh when Trump is indicted, and the DOJ finds there is no case against Biden since he didn't obstruct.
Nemo
Big mistake by the GQP. They could have whined and loaned for 2 years (admittedly this won’t stop them) demanding investigations!
Now Garland can say, “You wanted a SC, I gave you an SC. It’s out of my hands.”
And in the legal, not the political jurisdiction, the cult fever dreams melt in the face of law and fact like hair dye on Rudy’s scalp.
As Rick Perry says, “Oops.”
Nemo
Yeah, that’s not how the Law works. Each case is evaluated on its merits independently. There is no moral equivalence or whataboutism in American jurisprudence (how unfortunate for your guy).
Once again, proof that you have not clue one as to the workings of the US legal system.
umbrella
bye bye biden
bass4funk
For doing the exact same thing with the one difference being that Biden was VP when he came into possession of these documents, how is that possible. That’s one strike right there.
No, either the same law is applied for the same crime or it’s not. If I break into a jewelry store and steal everything and you do the same but take a bit less, but I get 10 and you get off because of connections and not following the written law pertaining to conviction, how is that justified?
Yes or are you saying we have a two tier system? I get it, Dems are in a panic, but relax. This is one of those incidents where the left got check-mated politically and they can’t get out of this one.
Lol, nice try.
Ok, prosecute one because we hate the orange man, but don’t prosecute the old guy because we don’t like the Republicans. I see.
It’s not Trump
Haaa Nemui
Obama could easily fix this for Biden by just saying he declassified them. Right? That’s how this works right? Lol
Haaa Nemui
I could care less about Biden. If he goes down, Trump goes down. It’s worse for Trump than it is for Biden. I don’t think the Dems are in a panic about this at all.
PTownsend
The above is doubtful, its supporters believe everything it or its backers tells their global media supporters. Look at how many Republicans have supported Florida guy's big lies. The R's aim is to accelerate the demise of the US so their clans can take over with no governments not to pay taxes to and have no laws that might affect their 'right' to get as rich as possible and do whatever they want, while denying those same 'rights' to the millions of 'others', The Russia/China/Iran/North Korea bloc are smiling seeing the Republicans accelerate the decline of the US.
Bob Fosse
Fair enough. Let’s see how this plays out.
Nemo
The inability to understand the BASIC factual differences between the 2 cases really goes a long way toward explaining how anyone could be delusional enough to vote for a cult leader in the first place.
“I know he’s a habitual liar, a narcissistic sociopath, a philanderer and a likely sexual predator. I know he’s incompetent and an idiot to boot. But he’s promised to “shake things up and by golly, that’s all that matters.”
Bob Fosse
No. That’s not how the law works, nor logic.
bass4funk
Yes, on the day Garland about a SC to go after Trump back in November, he already knew that Biden had these classified documents in his possession. That’s your gotcha moment.
Not sure what that all meant, but anyway, this is not looking good for Biden. Doocy asks this guy about the classified files and Joe talks about his Corvette….yeah….smh…
UChosePoorly
'Lefty' here. If Biden did anything criminal, then he should be punished the same as anyone. We are a nation of laws and no person is above the law.
Nemo
(A theoretical but very likely accurate reenactment of Biden’s sworn testimony in his deposition)
Mr. Biden did you personally pack these boxes?
No, my staff did at my direction.
Did you direct or in any way communicate to them that they should pack the documents in question?
No.
When did you first find out about the documents?
On or about November 2nd.
Had you ever seen them before?
You mean after I left the VP?
Yes.
No.
What did you do upon discovery?
Immediately directed that they be turned over to NARA and ordered a search of all locations as a precautionary measure.
And what did that search yield?
It found a number of documents as a second subsequent location.
And what did you do then?
I also immediately ordered that they be turned over to NARA.
Did NARA even know they were gone?
I don’t know.
Mr. President, did you ever move the documents, order that they be moved or otherwise attempt to conceal, hide or them from law enforcement or obstruction law enforcement in regaining custody?
Absolutely not.
Thank you, Mr. Biden. We have to verify your statement but for now. that is all.
sunfunbun
This is exactly not what is going on.
Trump people: He’s good for everything he does whether it’s right or wrong.
Not Trump people: If Biden broke the law he should be punished.
Haaa Nemui
Didn’t vote but fully defending him by trying to attack Biden supporters. That’s called support. Funny that.
ian
This will highlight the differences with trump's case if any
What can Biden be charged with?
What can Trump be charged with?
Blacklabel
Classified documents in his garage at the same address that influence seller Hunter listed as his residence at the time.
say it ain’t so, Joe.
booooomerang. When is the FBI raid?
Blacklabel
lMy Corvette is in a locked garage, OK? So, it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street.”
quote of 2023 so far.
NOMINATION
Not Trump people: But Trump....
Trump's name is only mentioned once in this entire long article but no one seems to care about the subject matter of this article.
Blacklabel
He actually could, yes.
but remember his wise words? Never underestimate the ability of Joe to f something up, he’s not getting into this mess that Joe made.
Ouch.,
Blacklabel
Did he really? This happened in November and December. If it’s “nothing” why was it withheld until the media finally found out?
lincolnman
I can't wait until they examine Biden's documents and find out they were made in Jun 2022 and have Roger Stone, Don Jr, and Mike Liddell's fingerprints all over them...
painkiller
The American public should be outraged.
Trump is allowed to take classified documents, as is any US president, but Biden took the documents before he ever became president.
A big no no.
Lock him up!
Blacklabel
sure, so if Biden is found innocent of this crime then Trump would have to be too. No case where Biden can be innocent but Trump guilty.
But President Trump can be found innocent while VP Biden is guilty because different rules for a president.
then once Trump is innocent of having the docs, if he was allowed to have them, none of the other stuff matters.
but this article is about Biden anyway, not Trump. Fun times to come from that boomerang.
spinningplates
Petty revenge by the Republicans?
well, it’s certainly a chance for that.
The problem with the ‘good guys’ these days is they keep making stupid mistakes that open the door for the ‘bad guys’ to go…
’Yeah…What about you?’
Just get it together.
Blacklabel
Nov. 2: Biden lawyers find batch at his DC office
Dec. 20: Biden lawyers notify of a batch at his Wilmington garage
Jan 12: Biden lawyers notify of another document at Wilmington house
if he were raided by the FBI on Nov 2, all classified documents would have been recovered at once.
But it was election week, ya know?
u_s__reamer
If Biden broke the law, as Potus, he will NOT be punished (we all know by now, thanks to Trump, how "justice" is administered in America). Trump's case is very different, but on the evidence so far he, too, is guilty, tangled up in the tentacles of the notorious 1917 US "Espionage Act", a malicious piece of legislation that has been a handy tool of oppression employed by government exclusively to victimize those it wants to intimidate or silence.
Bob Fosse
5 times. Not once.
Blacklabel
At sentencing, the one who swings will get a longer sentence because of additional charges.
they are both equally guilty of the same crime, speeding.
but if the guy who swung wasn’t guilty of speeding and was set up as part of something illegal such as racial profiling?
Innocent of speeding and wont be prosecuted for swinging either.
wallace
The Biden documents had already been declassified by Trump. So everything is good.
plasticmonkey
No matter how many times the differences between these cases (e.g. obstruction of justice, lying) are pointed out, our MAGA friends will deflect to something else. The cognitive dissonance has them tied up in knots. They cannot stand the fact that anyone could behave in good faith (or argue in good faith) because that’s not how they view politics.
plasticmonkey
One is guilty of obstruction of justice.
Why don’t you get that? Biden’s docs were voluntarily turned over by the Biden team.
Jeez.
Blacklabel
Yea all 3 times! if he got raided before or even after the 1st time (as he should have been considering Hunter lives in that house too)- it would not be true about the voluntary.
only “voluntary” because the DOJ refused to allow a raid because of election week.
Blacklabel
As an ex VP, he wasn’t legally allowed to have those classified documents to begin with. The end. Criminal investigation. Hearing now he had them to help write his book.
does VP Harris have any classified material at her house? I would hope not as it’s illegal to have it there.
bass4funk
Both men cooperated, that's in the records, the Feds kindly told Trump to secure some of the documents and lock them which he did. That's indisputable for the record, the Feds requesting him to do so is irrefutable.
Biden had no legal or constitutional authority to possess any classified document, let alone not tell the public for 6 years but going after his potential presidential opponent for doing the same thing he's now accused of doing.
Oh, stop! Lol, then there wouldn't be a need to appoint a SC.
On this issue, Biden and Garland are checkmated
wallace
Trump knowingly hid his secret classified documents between the pages of magazines and kept them in an unlocked store room along with a secret file on French president Macron. Hundreds of classified documents.
"A White House statement first said that “a small number of documents with classified markings” — said to be about 10 — were discovered on Nov. 2 by the president’s personal attorneys while vacating office space used by Biden from mid-2017, shortly after his vice presidency ended, to early 2020. They were found in files in a locked closet."
"The FBI, in seeking a warrant to search Mar-a-Lago for more documents, said the boxes contained 184 documents with classification markings: 67 marked confidential, 92 marked secret and 25 documents marked top secret."
"Yes. Under Obama’s executive order, the vice president has original classification authority"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/11/biden-trump-classified-documents-an-explainer/
NOMINATION
Biden's name mentioned in this article, 17 times. Bob's mention of Biden in 4 comments, zero.
bass4funk
As did Biden by his Corvette and more importantly knew he had them and was made aware of them 5 days before the midterms.
Ok, so basically, Garland and his DOJ have nothing on Trump, if they apply the same standard to Biden the same way they did to Hillary, we know this is all political and nothing more, so Garland has to decide, charge both men or exonerate them. He's boxed in and he knows it.
Rodney
Just love democracy. Only two choices and both are the same, just one is red and one is blue.
in a garage…Biden, get a dementia test. It could get you off…
Blacklabel
exactly. So how was this even allowed to become public? The liberal media even reported on it, unlike every other thing that has been covered up to date?
Biden may have been deemed expendable if they didn’t bother to cover it up after 2 months of initially hiding it.
“we could have burned them and you would have never known” isn’t really a good defense though.
Bob Fosse
My first comment “fair enough. Let’s see how this plays out” is really all anyone should say about this at the current time.
The rest is pointless.
plasticmonkey
Non sequitur. Appointing a SC doesn’t mean the docs were not handed over voluntarily.
Is that a fact. Wow. Another conspiracy theory. Where’d you pull that one from? The basement of a pizza parlor?
Bob Fosse
Nope. You either follow your own ‘standards’ or you don’t.
plasticmonkey
That is not acceptable to our friends on the other side of the wall. They need a conspiracy theory to keep them warm.
You’d think if the DOJ were so corrupt and weaponized we’d never hear about these docs. Sociologists have found clear patterns of behavior among conspiracy theorists, the most salient of which is that facts will not deter them from their belief. They will only make them more insistent that the conspiracy theory is true.
Humor is a more effective strategy.
Joe Blow
No doubt every president and top-level official has classified documents at home and elsewhere. Remember Hillary?
The Democrats were throwing stones from glass houses at Trump over this. Investigate everyone.
bass4funk
Oh, really? Lol
Plastic if you think regurgitating KJP WH talking points is going to get Biden out of this mess, don't put your hopes into Biden skating away from this mess. They unleashed the dogs and now they got bit and are desperately trying to do a major CYA.
Not going to work.
plasticmonkey
I’m counting on the corrupt and weaponized DOJ to bail him out. Dems, libs, and the left have no shame and will pull whatever deep state tricks they can to protect the Biden Crime Syndicate. Even Gym Jordan can’t infiltrate the labyrinthian stranglehold the BCS has on American politics.
plasticmonkey
bass
You can’t lol your way out of this. The left are simply too wily.
Nemo
Come and get them both and let's see what happens.
I don't think that is going to be the exonerating action that the GQP thinks it is going to be. In fact, I think it will reinforce both his guilt and his willingness to burn the Rule of Law to the ground to escape liability.
Moderator
Readers, this story will be closed for discussion for a few hours.
2020hindsights
Almost certainly it would not. If someone robs a bank and is caught and then someone else also robs a bank and is also caught, the second case doesn’t affect the first case.
bass4funk
Well no. Trump is likely to be charged with ‘wilful retention’, something that as far as I have seen Biden did not do. Biden’s lawyers notified the archive agency as soon as they found the documents and arranged to return them.
Trump didn’t. He kept them. His lawyers said that he had returned them when he hadn’t. His ignored subpoenas to return them. He even said that they are his documents, when clearly the are not.
So Trump could be charged with ‘wilful retention’ and Biden not and that’s how Garland can indict one and exonerate the other.
wtfjapan
bye bye biden
lets make a bet who gets indicted first. Biden or Trump
Trumps done, maga just hasnt come to terms with it yet,
and yes if the evidence is there for Biden obstructed justice then he can get indicted also.
special council Jack Smith just hired 2 top prosecutors with successful convictions against politicians
maga better buckleup. LOL
wtfjapan
labyrinthian stranglehold the BCS has on American politics.
Bidens havent had 17 guilty verdicts of tax fraud, 1 guilty of obstruction of justice and his CFO being sent to prision.
This is just the start, maga better get those tissues ready, a tsunami of indictments are coming real soon,
Jack Smith , NY AG James are just getting started LOL
Blacklabel
so I can expect Special Counsel Robert Hur to have the all the needed resources to do the same, right?
Express sister
“The police never get away with racial profiling and are always punished for their actions, while citizens victimized by the police are always vindicated, especially if they’re black” - someone who definitely understands policing in the US.
Blacklabel
exactly. they are both innocent or both guilty of robbing a bank.
One guy doesnt get off because he stole less money or he didnt intend to or it was a mistake or it was inadvertent or he was surprised about it or he gave back the money voluntarily or he kept it in a more safe location after he stole it.
So the question becomes who is actually guilty of robbing a bank and who isnt?
maybe it wasnt a robbery at all? Maybe they both work at the bank but one guy was authorized to have the money and another was not.
Blacklabel
the stolen documents were stored safely in a locked garage- right next to my other most prized possession!
kind of ruins the whole "I didnt even know I had it" story when you tell me how precious it was to you by how you so carefully stored it, right?
anyway, special counsel for both.
lets see who was supposed to have documents and who was not supposed to. The Hunter connection is even more alarming as he was selling everything he could find during that time and carelessly leaving things all over the place.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-biden-assistant-questioned-law-enforcement-classified-docs-repeatedly-appeared-hunter-emails
plasticmonkey
Faulty analogy.
Two big legal issues here. One is intent to commit wrongdoing. The other is willful obstruction of justice.
Trump seems likely to be guilty of both. Biden does not.
But we’ll let the justice system decide, shall we?
Nemo
Speeding with one going 5 mph over and self -reporting and the other going 75 mph over and ignoring teh summons and then burning the car (in his own garage) to hide the evidence was a better analogy.
Nemo
Intent vs. none.
self-reporting vs. intentional deception
cooperation vs. obstruction
Kind of fundamental differences here.
Fortunately, both lawyers serving as SC are fully capable of dealing in nuance and looking at THEIR ASSIGNED cases in isolation to make a recommendation.
That is not good news for the Dotard.
dagon
The best way to rob a bank is to own one.
Both parties are owned by the corporatoracy.
Who misplaced documents worse or have the most wastrel sons and devoting team spirit to this is why the American people lose out.
bass4funk
Trust me, I absolutely don't need to, now more than ever. I already know Garland painted himself in a corner and frankly, that's his fault.
So when both men walk (and they will walk, what then? Try to go after him for the 8th time?)
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
Almost certainly it would not. If someone robs a bank and is caught and then someone else also robs a bank and is also caught, the second case doesn’t affect the first case.
Nope. Trump most likely guilty of ‘wilful retention’, Biden not.
plasticmonkey
robbing a bank
Good point. Let me update: If someone robs a bank and is caught and then someone else has an overdue library book and is also caught, the second case doesn’t affect the first case.
Blacklabel
actually use of the word garage was quite poor lol
Seeing as that is one of THREE places Biden had stolen documents.
Blacklabel
he actually didnt report it at all for 2 months.
Then the media found out (someone ratted him out) so he admitted only 1 place on one day. and then once the media found out about the other 2 places on 2 other days then he finally admitted those 2 as well.
quite deceptive, actually.
bass4funk
Biden?
Both lose
If it's telling the former president to secure the files in Dubai is secure, and safe to store them, and the former vice president, retaining unsecured classified files nearest Corvette annoying this five days before the midterm, I'm not sure, but what do you call that?
Yes, so Garland has a lot of explaining to do.
We shall see if they're fair or if they're just partisan political hacks.
Nor Biden.
2020hindsights
Blacklabel
and self -reporting
Actually they reported straight away to the national archives agency. They didn't delay fro 2 months.
bass4funk
Yeah, after 6 years of constant failure at getting Trump, I'll take that bet wholeheartedly!
So what happens to the 71 million followers?
Thank you, it's a start, but honesty is the best disinfectant
We shall see, so far getting Trump has been more of a letdown than the last Sopranos episode finale.