President Joe Biden responded to the FBI raid targeting Mar-a-Lago last month by asserting he knows nothing about the investigation into former President Donald Trump.
When asked by CBS News host Scott Pelley during a “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday, Biden said he has not been told about the allegedly classified materials that were taken by FBI agents during the Aug. 8 raid of Trump’s Florida residence.
“I have not personally spoken to anyone on that—in that regard,” Biden said. “I’m sure my administration is aware of all of that, and so is the National Security Council. But I have not.”
Also in the interview, Biden said he was told ahead of time about the search. Hours after the search was carried out, Trump announced the raid on his Truth Social platform.
“I have not asked for the specifics of those documents because I don’t want to get myself in the middle of whether or not the Justice Department should move or not move on certain actions they could take,” Biden said.
The president also attacked Trump by claiming the 45th president mishandled documents that were deemed classified.
His comments during Sunday night’s interview are in line with a narrative that has been pushed by other White House officials, who have said the administration was not aware of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation into Trump.
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Despite their comments about not having any knowledge beforehand, administration officials asked the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in April to let the FBI review documents from Trump’s home, according to a newly disclosed letter published last month. Boxes of materials were transferred to NARA in January 2022 from Mar-a-Lago after months of negotiations.And Trump has accused the White House of having prior knowledge while accusing the DOJ and FBI of carrying out a politically motivated attack against him as he publicly mulls running for president in 2024.
“It is a continuation of Russia, Russia, Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax # 2, the no collusion Mueller Report, and more,” Trump wrote in mid-August. “To make matters worse it is all, in my opinion, a coordinated attack with radical left Democrat state & local D.A.’s & A.G.’s.”
Trump, meanwhile, has asserted that he had declassified the documents that had allegedly classified markings found at Mar-a-Lago. He’s also accused the FBI of seizing records covered under attorney-client privilege, personal medical records, tax documents, and his passports.
On Sept. 15, Florida-based U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon appointed New York-based Judge Raymond Dearie as a special master, or an independent arbiter, to handle materials that were taken by the FBI. Among other responsibilities, Dearie is tasked with determining whether any documents taken by the bureau can be considered off-limits to federal investigators.
