Joe Biden’s beach house in Delaware is being searched by the FBI

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The president’s attorney said Wednesday that FBI agents are searching a beach home belonging to Joe Biden as part of an investigation into possible mishandling of classified documents.

Bob Bauer, Biden’s personal attorney, said: “Today, with the President’s full support and cooperation, the Department of Justice [Department of Justice] He conducts a planned inspection of his home in Rehoboth, Delaware.

“Under standard procedures of the Department of Justice, and in the interest of operational security and integrity, it sought to do this work without prior public notice, and we agreed to cooperate.”

It was the latest uncomfortable development for Biden as he prepares to launch his re-election campaign later this month.

He had previously denounced his predecessor, Donald Trump, as irresponsible after classified documents were found in his Florida home.

“Today’s search is another step in a timely and comprehensive process for the Department of Justice, and we will continue to fully support and facilitate. We will have more information at the conclusion of today’s search,” said Mr. Bauer.

The White House had previously said that no classified documents were found at the property in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

It was not immediately clear if the FBI found any additional classified documents on Wednesday.

Biden has spent many weekends at his $2.7 million six-bedroom beach house during his presidency.

He wasn’t there last weekend, having opted instead to travel to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland.

The search follows a comprehensive 13-hour review of Biden’s other home in Wilmington, Delaware, on Jan. 20.

On that occasion, the agents found additional confidentially marked documents and also obtained some of his handwritten notes.

In November, the FBI searched the offices of the Ben Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement after secret documents were discovered there.

There was no immediate comment from the FBI or the Department of Justice.

“The White House is in freefall,” said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional attorney.

They have adopted the position of not answering questions.”

He added, “Those [documents] Has been there for 14 years or more. Any knowledge during that period will show an intent to keep these documents. This is a very serious question.”

Merrick Garland, the US attorney general, has already appointed a special counsel, Robert Hoare, to investigate Biden’s handling of classified materials, which date back to his tenure as vice president between 2009 and 2017.

Mr. Hoare is looking into why the documents were not turned over to the National Archives when Mr. Biden left office, as required by law.

He might meet with senior White House officials who also worked with Biden when he was vice president, and possibly with Biden himself.

Meanwhile, the National Archives has reportedly required all former US vice presidents to search their personal records for classified documents or other presidential materials that should have been turned over when they left office.

It is illegal to knowingly or intentionally remove or keep classified material, although no current or former president or vice president has been charged with wrongdoing.

Jack Smith, a separate special counsel, is investigating the discovery of classified documents at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, which the FBI searched in August.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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