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Press Release Published: Jan 15, 2023

Comer Calls on White House to Release Biden’s Wilmington Residence Visitor Log, Questions Why Biden Aides Continue to Search Properties in Wake of Special Counsel

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today is calling on White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain to release the visitor log for President Biden’s Wilmington residence and provide documents and communications about all properties and locations searched, including the identities of the Biden aides conducting the searches.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is continuing to investigate President Biden’s mishandling of highly classified documents. It is troubling that classified documents have been improperly stored at the home of President Biden for at least six years, raising questions about who may have reviewed or had access to classified information. Additionally, President Biden’s personal attorneys, who do not possess security clearances, and White House staff continue to access and search the President’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware for classified documents.  Given the serious national security implications, the White House must provide the Wilmington residence’s visitor log. As Chief of Staff, you are head of the Executive Office of the President and bear responsibility to be transparent with the American people on these important issues related to the White House’s handling of this matter,” wrote Chairman Comer. 

President Biden’s personal attorneys first discovered classified documents at the Penn Biden Center on November 2, 2022. The National Archives informed the Department of Justice of President Biden’s improper storage of documents on November 4, 2022. On November 14, 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland tasked U.S. Attorney John Lausch with reviewing whether a special counsel should be appointed. Despite the Department of Justice initiating its review of the matter, reports indicate that White House staff and President Biden’s attorneys continued searching his Wilmington property. On December 20, 2022—over one month after Lausch began his review—President Biden’s personal lawyers notified Lausch of additional classified documents that were found at the President’s Wilmington residence.

“The Committee is also concerned White House aides and President Biden’s personal attorneys searched the Wilmington residence knowing that the Department of Justice was already investigating the matter,” continued Chairman Comer. “On January 5, 2023, Mr. Lausch notified the Attorney General that a special counsel was warranted. That notification still did not dissuade the President’s attorneys from accessing his residence on January 11, 2022, or White House counsel from accessing his residence on January 12, 2022. On January 12, 2022, the Attorney General announced the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Hur. Nonetheless, President Biden has returned to Delaware this weekend without any reported law enforcement ever conducting an independent search for classified materials.”

The letter to Ron Klain can be found here. He has until January 30, 2023 to provide the requested information.

Read more:

Comer Demands Answers from NARA and Biden White House About Classified Docs Stashed at Penn Biden Center

Comer Demands Answers from White House About Classified Docs Found at Wilmington Residence

Comer Statement on Appointment of Special Counsel

Comer: Biden’s Three Strikes Against Transparency Will Be Met with Swift Congressional Oversight