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CNN —President Joe Biden over the last two days participated in a voluntary interview with special counsel Robert Hur as a part of his classified documents investigation, the White House announced Monday. A spokesperson for Hur, who oversees the Justice Department’s probe into classified documents found at Biden’s home and former private office, declined to comment to CNN. Hur was appointed in January to investigate incidents of classified documents being found at Biden’s former Washington, DC, office and his Wilmington, Delaware, home. While Biden has not often commented on the case, he said in January that he was surprised to learn that classified documents were found in his former office. “People know I take classified documents, classified information seriously,” Biden added, saying that the documents were found in “a box, locked cabinet – or at least a closet.”After documents were found in his Wilmington home later in January, Biden said he was cooperating fully with the Justice Department.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur, “, ”, Ian Sams, ” Sams, Donald Trump, Robert Mueller, Trump, Biden, Hur, Justice Department’s, General Merrick Garland, Garland, John Lausch, Lausch, ” Biden, Biden didn’t, didn’t Organizations: CNN, White, White House, Justice Department, Justice, National Archives, The Archives, FBI, Wilmington, “ Locations: Israel, Washington, DC, Wilmington , Delaware, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Mexico City, Mexico, Canada, Ukraine, Iran, United Kingdom, “, Wilmington

Law enforcement investigations and criminal prosecutions will continue “without interruption,” the plan says, and prisons will remain staffed. Special counsels are instead funded by “the permanent, indefinite appropriation for independent counsels,” according to their expenditure reports. Civil litigation in lower federal courts will be “curtailed or postponed,” according to the Justice Department contingency plan. A shutdown also could affect state and local efforts to address violent crime, Monaco said. During a hearing on Capitol Hill last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that a shutdown would “certainly disrupt” programs like “our grant programs to state and local law enforcement.”

Persons: Hunter, – Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Robert Hur, Joe Biden’s, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, ”, Lisa Monaco, Monaco, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Department, CNN, Justice Department, Administrative, Capitol Locations: Delaware

☆ FBI investigating violent threats against officials in Fulton County, Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fulton County Sheriff officers in front of the Fulton County Courthouse on September 06, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is responding to violent threats made against officials in Fulton County, Georgia, the agency said in a statement Thursday. The FBI said it is working with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, but declined to discuss details of ongoing investigations. "Individuals found responsible for making threats in violation of state and/or federal laws will be prosecuted." Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting Trump, said in late July that she had received racist threats ahead of her decision to bring charges against the former president.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Trump, Joe Biden's, Hunter Biden, Robert Hur, Jack Smith Organizations: Fulton County Sheriff, Courthouse, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Sheriff's, Fulton, Prosecutors, NBC News, Trump Locations: Fulton County, Fulton, Atlanta , Georgia, Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, Florida, Washington

☆ Explainer: US special counsels work with independence and a spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Unlike other federal prosecutors, special counsels work without day-to-day control by the Justice Department. Unlike with other cases, the attorney general must notify Congress if he or she overrules one of the special counsel's decisions. And the special counsel must submit a report laying out the reasons for charging people or declining to do so. Those lawyers worked with an even greater degree of independence than special counsels. When statute creating independent counsels expired in 1999 it was replaced by existing Department of Justice rules for appointing special counsels.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Bonnie Cash, Joe Biden's, Hunter, Weiss, Garland, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's, Smith, Robert Mueller, Trump, Biden, Robert Hur, Brad Heath, Don Durfee Organizations: U.S, Justice Department, REUTERS, FBI, of Justice, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Florida, Russia, U.S, Delaware, Maryland, Kosovo

☆ Explainer: How Hunter Biden, Trump special counsels work independently
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Unlike other federal prosecutors, special counsels work without day-to-day control by the Justice Department. Unlike with other cases, the attorney general must notify Congress if he or she overrules one of the special counsel's decisions. And the special counsel must submit a report laying out the reasons for charging people or declining to do so. When statute creating independent counsels expired in 1999 it was replaced by existing Department of Justice rules for appointing special counsels. The special counsel's investigation could weigh on Biden's 2024 reelection campaign, some Democrats say, because it has the potential to broaden to other issues.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, David Weiss, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Bonnie Cash, Joe Biden's, Hunter, Weiss, Garland, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's, Smith, Robert Mueller, WEISS, HUR, SMITH, Trump, Biden, Robert Hur, HUNTER BIDEN, Brad Heath, Don Durfee, Heather Timmons Organizations: U.S, Justice Department, REUTERS, WHO CAN, FBI, of Justice, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Florida, Russia, U.S, Delaware, Maryland, Kosovo

☆ Hunter Biden could face trial, newly named US special counsel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The filing came moments after U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel status, giving him additional authority and independence to pursue the investigation. As a special counsel, Weiss will be free from day-to-day supervision from the Justice Department and file charges anywhere in the United States. Hunter Biden has worked as a lobbyist, lawyer, consultant and investment banker and has said he has struggled with alcoholism and crack cocaine use. "If Weiss negotiated the sweetheart deal that couldn’t get approved, how can he be trusted as a Special Counsel?" Hunter Biden has been a focus of several Republican congressional committees.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Republican Donald Trump, Biden, Weiss, General Merrick Garland, TRUMP, Garland, Chris Clark, Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Kevin McCarthy, couldn’t, McCarthy, Jack Smith, Robert Hur, Hunter, Devon Archer, Trump, Stephen Cheung, Sarah N, Lynch, Jeff Mason, Rami Ayyub, Moira Warburton, Jacqueline Thomsen, David Ljunggren, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Attorney, Trump, Justice Department, REUTERS, CIA, Reuters, Biden, Thomson Locations: Delaware, United States, Washington, California, Delaware , Washington, Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, Ukraine, China

☆ Hunter Biden's plea deal is dead as the DOJ appoints a special counsel to oversee its investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hunter Biden's legal troubles just got a whole lot worse. Meanwhile, Biden's plea deal for tax crimes and a gun charge has collapsed. The surprise announcement came as federal prosecutors suggested that a plea deal with the president's son is now effectively dead after a Trump-appointed judge refused to accept it. Many in the GOP are still furious over Weiss' role in Hunter Biden's now-potentially dead plea deal. "'[T]he parties are at an impasse and are not in agreement on either a plea agreement or a diversion agreement," prosecutors wrote in the court filing.

Persons: Hunter, General Merrick Garland, Biden's, Hunter Biden, David Weiss, Trump, Joe Biden's, Garland, Weiss, DOJ's Hunter Biden, Biden, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's, Robert Hur, Bill Barr, Robert Mueller, Barr, Hunter Biden's, Judge Maryellen Noreika Organizations: Service, Justice Department, Trump, Obama, GOP Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Biden attorneys are in talks with special counsel Robert Hur over terms to interview the president
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Monica Alba | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Attorneys for President Joe Biden and the special counsel appointed to investigate his handling of classified documents have been negotiating for about a month over the terms under which he would be interviewed, two people familiar with the matter said. Discussions between Biden's lawyers and special counsel Robert Hur's office are focused on how, when and where the interview might take place, as well as the scope of the questions, these people said. For months now, Biden's lawyers have been gaming out various scenarios for an interview, with the expectation that he would provide one once his legal team and the special counsel agreed on the specifics. The documents were found in an office Biden used after he left the vice presidency and at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur in January, two months after he named Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee the investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur's, Bob Bauer, Hur, Biden, Department's, General Merrick Garland, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's Organizations: White, WASHINGTON —, Justice Locations: Kentucky, Washington, U.S, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ DOJ has spent over $9 million investigating Trump since special counsel was appointed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Justice Department has spent over $9.2 million investigating former President Donald Trump since the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith in November, according to the first public accounting of his expenses. Smith’s office, leading the high-profile investigations into Trump, has spent more than $5.4 million between November and March 31, the Justice Department said. Other DOJ entities have spent an additional $3.8 million to support Smith. Another $1 million dollars paid for investigative support and more than $80,000 went to helping employees relocate while they worked for the special counsel. Durham spendingDurham, the special counsel appointed to investigate potential misconduct in the Trump-Russia probe, spent more than $7 million from the time he started his investigation as a special counsel, according to Friday’s filing.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, Robert Hur, John Durham, Robert Mueller, Trump . Hur, Joe Biden’s, Hur, Durham, Hillary Clinton Organizations: CNN, The Justice, Trump, Justice Department, DOJ, White Locations: Russia, Durham, acquittals

☆ Special counsel Jack Smith spent $5.4 million on Trump probes through March
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Special counsel Jack Smith's office spent more than $5.4 million during the four and a half months since he took over two criminal probes centered on former President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice said Friday. Smith's operation spent the remainder of the money on travel, rent, printing, supplies, acquisition of equipment, according to the statement of expenditures. The DOJ on Friday also released separate spending reports for two other special counsels, Robert Hur and John Durham. The special counsels' activities are funded by the permanent appropriation for independent counsels, the reports note. Marshals Service also incurred a combined $3.8 million in support of Smith's probes, but that figure is not included in the $5.4 million total because the agencies paid their own respective costs.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump, Jack Smith's, General Merrick Garland, Smith, Trump, Joe Biden, Robert Hur, John Durham . Hur, Durham Organizations: US Department of Justice, Department of Justice, IT, DOJ, White, FBI, U.S . Marshals Service Locations: Washington ,, Durham

☆ Special counsel probe continues into Biden's mishandling of government secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Biden faces his own special counsel investigation over mishandled secret documents. Like Trump, Biden has faced his own drip, drip, drip of revelations in the case, and questions about his role. Like Trump, Biden has faced his own drip, drip, drip of revelations in the case, and questions about his role. It's unusual for the Justice Department to prosecute someone for mishandling classified records without evidence of so-called aggravating factors, such as obstruction of justice or willful violation, Insider's Sonam Sheth has reported. And in the unlikely event the special counsel does seek charges, Biden as the current president would be shielded from a criminal prosecution until when he's left office.

Persons: Biden, —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, hasn't, Robert Hur, Trump's, Trump, he'd, Sonam Sheth, he's Organizations: Trump, Service, Miami, NBC, FBI, Trump's, National Archives, Records Administration, Justice Department Locations: Delaware, Lago, Iran

☆ Exclusive: Former White House official told federal prosecutors Trump knew of proper declassification process and followed it while in office
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Zachary Cohen Paula Reid | Zachary Cohen | Paula Reid | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During those voluntary interviews, the former official told CNN there was a distinct difference in the line of questioning from prosecutors in the two probes. Speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, the former official said he told federal prosecutors that Trump knew the proper process for declassifying documents and followed it correctly at times while in office. Sources previously told CNN that Trump’s team returned some materials but not the document pertaining to Iran. “Nothing approaching an order that foolish was ever given,” Kelly told CNN. Most recently, Trump told CNN at a town hall that materials were “automatically declassified” when he took them.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Trump’s, ‘, John Eisenberg, Eisenberg, “, Don McGahn, John Kelly, McGahn, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's Mar, Kelly, ” Kelly, Mark Meadows, Jack Smith’s, Meadows, Robert O’Brien, O’Brien, National Intelligence Richard Grenell, Robert Hur, Hur, Kathy Chung, empaneled, Mike Pence’s Organizations: Washington CNN, White House, CNN, Trump, Obama, Mar, The Justice Department, National Security Council, White, National Archives, Department of Justice, Trump’s, Trump’s Mar, Prosecutors, National Intelligence, Biden Locations: Delaware, Russia, Iran, Lago

It allows Pence to offer an additional contrast between himself and former President Donald Trump, his political rival who’s under serious investigation by the Justice Department and others. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department’s National Security Division have conducted an investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information,” the Justice Department wrote to Pence’s attorney. The Justice Department is still investigating the handling of classified records by Trump and Biden. Two months after Smith’s appointment, Garland appointed special counsel Robert Hur in January following reports that classified documents were found at Biden’s home and former private office. Biden’s team says that when the classified documents were first discovered last fall, they immediately notified the National Archives, which then informed the Justice Department.

Persons: Mike Pence’s, Pence’s, Pence, Donald Trump, “, ”, Joe Biden’s, General Merrick Garland, Trump, Jack Smith’s, Garland, Smith, Robert Hur, Hur, Biden’s Organizations: CNN, The Justice, Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department’s National Security Division, FBI, Justice Department’s National Security Division, Justice, Trump, Biden, DOJ, National Archives, Lago Locations: Pence’s Indiana, Delaware, Lago, Iran

☆ Classified documents mishandled by Trump, Biden, and Pence handed over to Congressional 'Gang of Eight'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Classified documents were found in the possession of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and former Vice President Mike Pence in the past six months. A group of lawmakers known as the "Gang of Eight" have been asking for access to the docs. That process recently got underway, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private interactions between the Justice Department and Congress. Another special counsel, Robert Hur, is also investigating the improper retention of documents from Biden's time as vice president that have been located in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank office. The Justice Department had said that it wanted to be cooperative with the lawmakers' demands within the confines of the ongoing investigations.

Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" enough votes needed to overturn Trump's election loss in Georgia. Only the Justice Department can decide whether to charge Trump, who has called the Democratic-led panel's investigation a politically motivated sham. Trump has accused the Justice Department of engaging in a partisan witch hunt. NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL CIVIL LAWSUITNew York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump and his Trump Organization last September for fraud. The second lawsuit could go to trial on April 25, after a U.S. judge in January called Trump's bid to dismiss it "absurd."

The chief judge has sole discretion over sealed federal grand jury proceedings. As chief judge, Boasberg is poised to rule on certain legal arguments raised in the grand jury probes, including efforts to restrict witnesses from testifying. Grand jury proceedings are kept from public view. Another special counsel, Robert Hur, was named by Garland in January to look into classified records found at Biden's home in Delaware and former office in Washington. During her tenure as chief judge, Howell regularly heard legal arguments in special counsel investigations.

☆ FBI Searched for Biden Documents at University of Delaware
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Sadie Gurman | Aruna Viswanatha | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Biden donated his Senate papers to the University of Delaware, turning over more than 1,850 boxes to his alma mater, according to the university’s website. WASHINGTON—The FBI has conducted two searches in recent weeks at the University of Delaware as part of a probe into how and why classified documents were on premises used by President Biden, people familiar with the matter said. The agents found no documents marked classified but did take some material from the university, the people said. The searches, like others done as part of the expanding inquiry involving Mr. Biden’s documents, took place upon agreement with Mr. Biden’s lawyers. A special counsel, Robert Hur , is now probing why classified documents followed Mr. Biden after he left the Senate and his vice presidency, an inquiry that is expected to take months.

Biden's private lawyer disclosed on Saturday that DOJ officials turned up classified documents related both to Biden's vice presidency and even his time in the US Senate. Garland's swift announcement came after earlier news that a second batch of classified documents was found on Biden's property. Here, a timeline lays out Biden's involvement with the classified documents — and how it sometimes overlapped with the turmoil around Trump's classified documents probe. January 14: White House says more classified documents were found in Biden's homeAdditional pages of classified documents were found in Biden's Wilmington home in a storage room next to the garage, The New York Times reported. January 21: DOJ finds 6 more pages of classified documents in Biden's homeFederal investigators searched Biden's Wilmington home on Friday and found half a dozen classified documents, according to Biden's personal attorney, Bob Bauer.

In addition to locating one page with classified markings, the FBI also recovered "six additional pages without such markings that were not discovered in the initial review by the vice president's counsel," he added. The search of Pence's home comes as former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden face investigations by two special counsels over the retention of classified records. The FBI conducted a court-approved search of Trump's Florida estate on Aug. 8, where they collected about 13,000 records, about 100 of which contained classified markings. Biden had an office there after he served as vice president under Barack Obama and before his presidential election. Since then, additional records were also found at Biden's residence in Wilmington.

☆ FBI searching Pence's home in classified documents probe -Justice Dept official
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The FBI on Friday conducted a consensual search at the Indianapolis residence of former Vice President Mike Pence, after classified documents were discovered at his house last month, a Justice Department official told Reuters. The search comes just a few weeks after Pence's attorney Greg Jacobs notified the National Archives in a Jan. 18 letter about the discovery of records with classified markings. The search of Pence's home comes as former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden face investigations by two special counsels over the retention of classified records. Biden had an office there after he served as vice president under Barack Obama and before his presidential election. A third search of Biden's Delaware beach home earlier this month did not find any additional documents.

[1/2] Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, U.S., October 19, 2022. Pence was issued a subpoena by special counsel Jack Smith, though the nature of the request was not immediately known, ABC News reported, citing sources. The first probe involves Trump's handling of highly sensitive classified documents he retained at his Florida resort after leaving the White House in January 2021. Last month, Garland named a separate special counsel, Robert Hur, to probe the improper storage of classified documents at President Biden's home and former office. In late January, Pence said he was not aware though he takes "full responsibility" after classified documents were found at his Indiana home.

☆ FBI searched Biden think tank office after classified documents were found last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

FBI agents searched the office President Joe Biden used after his vice presidency in Washington, D.C., in mid-November after his lawyers first discovered classified documents there earlier that month, two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News. Biden's personal lawyers said Justice Department investigators found more than half a dozen additional documents, some marked classified, in the search. The documents discovered range from his Senate tenure to his time as vice president under former President Barack Obama. Former President Donald Trump is also facing a special counsel investigation for failing to turn over classified documents. Last week, it was also reported that Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, also had classified documents in his home in Indiana.

The investigation focuses in part on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021. Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" enough votes needed to overturn Trump's election loss in Georgia. Legal experts said Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. Both investigations involving Trump are being overseen by Jack Smith, a war crimes prosecutor and political independent. NEW YORK CRIMINAL PROBEAlthough Trump was not charged with wrongdoing, his real estate company was found guilty on Dec. 6 of tax fraud in New York state.

A "small number" of classified documents were discovered last week at former Vice President Mike Pence’s Indiana home, according to two letters Pence’s counsel sent to the National Archives obtained by NBC News on Tuesday. Pence's team “immediately” secured the classified documents in a locked safe, Jacob said. The transfer was facilitated by Pence’s personal attorney, who has experience in handling classified documents and was involved with the Jan. 16 discovery. Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley later told NBC News that “no potential classified documents” were found at the offices of Pence’s organization Advancing American Freedom after Pence’s team searched the offices and the former vice president’s home in Indiana. In a statement Tuesday, Comer said Pence reached out to the panel about classified documents found at his Indiana residence.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday defended the Justice Department's handling of separate special counsel investigations into classified documents linked to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, saying it does not have different rules for Republicans and Democrats. In his first public remarks on the topic after even more classified documents were found at Biden's home in Delaware, Garland was asked whether he believed the Justice Department was handling the two probes fairly. Garland announced this month that Robert Hur, who was a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor, would serve as a special counsel in the Biden probe. Congressional Republicans have launched their own investigations into the Biden documents. Biden and Trump have had contrasting responses to the discovery of classified documents, which are supposed to be handed over to National Archives when presidents or vice presidents leave office.

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