Rep. Comer Accuses National Archives of Stonewalling Probe Into Biden Classified Documents
The House Oversight Committee’s new chair has made accusations against the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of stonewalling the GOP-led probe into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents.
In what is fast becoming a crisis of credibility for Biden, the White House said Saturday that another five pages of classified documents were found on Thursday at Biden’s Delaware home, which is in addition to sensitive materials found in December in the president’s garage and in November at his former offices at the Penn Biden Center in Washington.
Biden stated that he was “surprised” by the discovery of the documents and both he and his allies have insisted they’ve cooperated with NARA and the Justice Department over the materials, while Republicans have launched A probe is made into the matter.
Rep. James Comer (Republican of Kentucky), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said in a post on Twitter Late Sunday, the National Archives did not provide an answer. “simple briefing” The committee will review its handling of classified documents following Comer’s request for information almost a week ago.
“The Archives isn’t being transparent with the American people,” Comer wrote the post.
“So many questions remain unanswered,” He went on. “I will use the power of the gavel to get answers.”
NARA did no immediate reply to The Epoch Times’s request for comment.
In his post, Comer also shared an interview he gave to Fox News on Sunday, in which he expounded on NARA’s apparent stonewalling.
“The administration never told the American people, the National Archives never briefed me or the then-chairperson of the House Oversight Committee, as they’re supposed to, when something like this happens,” He spoke to the outlet.
Fox News interviewed Comer in an interview. separate interview NARA did not give a briefing on Saturday to the Oversight Committee “even though we’ve requested one,” But “they have not answered any of our simple requests for information.”
It follows Comer on Friday vowed “swift” While Congress investigates the Biden classified documents fiasco, they also criticize NARA’s failure to act “to promptly inform Congress and the American people about mishandled classified documents from Joe Biden’s time as vice president.”
The White House faces mounting criticism for not disclosing the find of the Biden-linked documents until two months after their discovery on Nov. 2—a week before the midterm elections—and even then the Biden administration only publicly acknowledged the materials after media outlets broke the story.
‘Political Bias’?
In a Jan. 10 letter to NARA’s Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall (pdfComer asked for a variety of documents and information regarding the Biden-linked materials. “as soon as possible” But not later than January 24.
Comer requested all related documents and communications between NARA and the White House, among NARA employees, between NARA and the Department of Justice, and between NARA and any outside entities, including Biden’s attorneys.
A spokesperson for NARA told The Epoch Times at the time that the agency had received Comer’s letter but had no further comment.
In the letter to Steidel, the Kentucky Republican also raised the question of “political bias” He described the incident as “a sham” and he was fired from the agency. “inconsistent treatment of recovering classified records” held by Biden and former President Donald Trump.
“NARA learned about these documents days before the 2022 midterm elections and did not alert the public that President Biden was potentially violating the law,” He wrote.
“Meanwhile, NARA instigated a public and unprecedented FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago—former President Trump’s home—to retrieve presidential records.”
Comer also spoke out against this disparate treatment “raises questions about political bias at the agency.”
Comer also requested the documents described in his letter to Steidel. also demanded The White House be required to turn over all information relating to its searches for documents that are classified Biden-linked.
The Epoch Times has reached out to The White House for comment on the discovery of classified documents.
From surfacing in a locked closet in a Washington think tank to being discovered in the president’s garage where he keeps his classic Corvette, the classified documents have sparked public interest and drawn legal scrutiny.
Attorney General Merrick Grland has appointed a special attorney to investigate the case. Republicans are not affected. have alleged a two-tiered justice system where Trump—who faces his own classified document probe—is seen as being treated more harshly than Biden.
Biden stated that he was “surprised” to learn that the classified documents were found at the Penn Biden Center, adding that he’s not aware of what the materials contained—and that his attorneys advised him not to ask.
The Epoch Times senior reporter is Tom Ozimek. He has extensive experience in journalism, marketing, communications, and adult education.
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