The White House has responded to the scathing report from the special counsel regarding President Biden's handling of classified documents. In a press briefing, spokesperson Ian Sams presented the White House's defense, stating that there is no case and declaring the issue closed.
Sams highlighted several points of contention between the White House and the report. One key dispute revolves around the president's conversations with his ghostwriter. The White House argues that President Biden did not cross any boundaries when discussing his personal diaries and journals, which contained classified information. However, the report suggests that such boundaries were indeed crossed during these interactions.
Furthermore, Sams acknowledged that some blame lies with the staff, as President Biden mentioned in his comments. However, he emphasized that the most troubling aspect of the report is the conversations between the president and his ghostwriter in 2017. These discussions allegedly involved the sharing of classified information with an individual who had not received clearance. Sams asserted that this responsibility lies solely with President Biden.
At this moment, the recordings or evidence supporting these claims have not been released, making it difficult to weigh the accuracy of the report. The White House disputes some aspects of it, and clarification may occur in due course.
Regarding the release of investigative materials, Sams indicated that the White House is open to the possibility. Freedom of information requests may be filed by reporters, and Republicans may seek access to the materials. The decision to release them will depend on whether classified information is present, with the only potential barrier being if President Biden asserts executive privilege.
One argument put forth by the president's lawyers is that the special counsel exceeded the norms and regulations of the Justice Department by producing this report. However, Sams clarified that special counsels are required to produce reports, akin to declination memos in regular Justice Department investigations. Any objections or alterations to the report would trigger reporting to Congress, potentially leading to further scandals.
In conclusion, the White House defends President Biden's actions concerning classified documents, stating that there is no case against him. However, discrepancies remain between the White House and the report's findings. The possibility of releasing investigative materials is being considered, as long as classified information is not involved. The argument that the report violated Justice Department norms is countered by the assertion that special counsel investigations necessitate such reports.
