During a White House press briefing Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly insisted that Joe Biden takes classified information seriously after he stated that he has “no regrets” about mishandling classified documents.
Biden on Thursday told reporters that there’s “nothing” to the scandal and that he “had no regrets” about storing classified documents in his garage, office, and home for six years.
“I’m following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do,” he said. “There’s no there there.” Biden was in California to survey storm damage along the central coast.
Biden slammed reporters for asking a question that he claimed the American people don’t care about.
“You know what, quite frankly, bugs me is that we have a serious problem here we’re talking about. We’re talking about what’s going on. And the American people don’t quite understand why you don’t ask me questions about that,” he said.
However, a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that sixty percent of Americans believe that he acted inappropriately with classified material, and nearly two-thirds believe Congress should investigate the matter.
Throughout the briefing Friday, Jean-Pierre repeatedly stated that the President takes classification very seriously and referred reporters with further questions about Biden’s comments to the White House counsel and the Justice Department.
While declining to comment specifically on Biden’s remarks, Jean-Pierre insisted that “he does indeed take classified information seriously.”
“I’m just not going to go beyond that,” she added. “I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office for any specifics on the president’s comments.”
Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden's statement that he has "no regrets" about hiding classified documents in his garage, office, and home for six years simply reinforces "that he does indeed take classified information seriously." pic.twitter.com/E2G8rJX6NM
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 20, 2023
According to George Washington Law professor Jonathan Turley, however, questions about Biden’s comments are not a matter for the White House Counsel.
The Department of Justice has already “confirmed that the White House is not prevented from discussing the underlying facts,” Turley noted on Twitter.
When asked if Biden’s decision to head to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware today had anything to do with classified documents being found at his Wilmington mansion, Jean-Pierre wouldn’t say. But she did reiterate that Biden takes classified documents and information “very very seriously.”
"The president is going to his home in Rehoboth Beach today. Does that have anything to do with classified documents being found at Wilmington?"
Karine Jean-Pierre won't say. pic.twitter.com/Sld9rL24dw
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 20, 2023
“It is increasingly painful to watch Karine Jean-Pierre as she argues that they have been “transparent” by being transparently unwilling to answer any questions,” Turley recently complained on Twitter.