President Biden interviewed by special counsel about classified documents

President Joe Biden answered questions on Sunday and Monday from the special counsel investigating the discovery of classified documents at his home and office. The interview was voluntary and took place at the White House, said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House counsel’s office. Special counsel Robert Hur was appointed to investigate after classified documents were found at Biden’s Delaware home. Classified documents were also found at a private office Biden used during the time between his terms as vice president and president. Biden has previously said he was unaware he had the documents and that his office was fully cooperating with investigators.

Has this happened before? Biden’s investigation is part of three recent Justice Department probes into politicians. Special counsel Jack Smith has accused former President Donald Trump of illegally retaining top secret records. In June, the Justice Department declined to pursue charges against former Vice President Mike Pence after he voluntarily came forward with classified documents discovered at his Indiana home. In 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey recommended no criminal charges over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information.

Dig deeper: Read Mark Hemingway’s column in WORLD Opinions on the politics of classified documents.