Classified documents found at Pence's Indiana home
NBCDec 23, 2022
The Facts
After he delivered two boxes of classified material to the Bureau more than three weeks ago, the FBI on Friday discovered one additional classified document and six unclassified records at the home of former VP Mike Pence. Pence spokesperson Devin O'Malley said the five-hour search was "consensual," "thorough," and "unrestricted."
According to a source familiar with the matter, Pence and his wife weren't home during the search, but a member of the former VP's legal team was present as the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) searched for what it considered might be original records that should have been sent to the National Archives.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Though the GOP is trying to equate Biden's handling of documents with that of Trump, both Biden and Pence have actually cooperated with the national archives while Trump actively fights them, which is why the current president and former VP will likely face more leniency from the DOJ than their counterpart. As 2024 approaches, the potential presidential campaigns of Pence and Biden will face less controversy simply due to this fact.
Pro-Trump narrative
As Biden continues to tout his cooperation with the national archives as evidence of his moral superiority, what the other side won't mention is that Trump's Mar-a-Lago was protected by the Secret Service, while Biden's documents were stashed in an unguarded public building. It's hard to imagine what the FBI would find if it raided the private property of any former president — say, Obama — because those politicians are friends of the powers that be, which is the true double standard here.
