Closing summary
Joe Biden is on the defensive again after investigators found more classified material at his Delaware home over the weekend, prompting some Democrats to express disappointment with the president. The House GOP is demanding information about visitors to Biden’s home from the Secret Service, though there are divisions within the party over how aggressive to be in their investigations.
Here’s what else happened today:
A jury found a January 6 rioter who kicked back at Nancy Pelosi’s desk guilty of all counts brought against him, while another defendant pleaded guilty to charges related to attacking police at the Capitol.
Four members of the Oath Keepers extremist group were convicted of seditious conspiracy by a jury in Washington DC.
We may find out more tomorrow about the legal hot water Donald Trump is facing in Georgia, when a judge determines whether to make public a special grand jury’s report into his campaign to meddle in the state’s 2020 election result.
Democrat Ruben Gallego announced he will run for the Arizona senate seat currently occupied by independent Kyrsten Sinema.
House Republicans want to kick three Democratic lawmakers from committee posts, but their leader Hakeem Jeffries wants to know why the GOP won’t do the same to admitted liar George Santos.
A familiar scene is playing out in the White House briefing room, as press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre bats away questions from reporters wanting to know more about the classified documents found at Joe Biden’s Delaware home and former Washington DC office.
The Guardian’s David Smith is there to see it for himself. Here’s Jean-Pierre trying to divert the press’s attention:
Jean-Pierre: "The American people heard directly from the president on this... He says, 'I take this very seriously'." It is going to be up to the American people as to how they see this president. "We've created nearly 11 million jobs. The unemployment rate is at a record low."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) January 23, 2023
And responding to complaints from Democrats:
Asked about criticism of Biden from Democrats, Jean-Pierre replies: "They also said the president is handling this in an appropriate fashion."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) January 23, 2023
And generally not commenting:
Jean-Pierre on Biden saying he has no regrets about classified documents: "I'm not going to go beyond what the president said and I think it speaks for itself."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) January 23, 2023