Classified documents 'accidentally' kept by former US Vice President Mike Pence
Former Vice President of the United States of America, Mike Pence, is the latest high ranking politician to be put in the spotlight for the discovery of the documents marked as classified at his Indiana residence.
Mr Pence's representative submitted the classified records to the FBI last week. The representative said a "small number of records were accidentally boxed and transported to his home as he left office in 2021".
It is not clear what information the documents contain. According to US media, the documents are believed to have first been taken to his home in Virginia before later being sent to Indiana.
The FBI and the Justice Department's National Security Division have launched a review of the documents and how they ended up in Pence's house in Indiana.
The announcement is contrary to repeated statements by the former Vice President that he did not have classified materials in his possession upon leaving office.
Our staff reviewed all of the materials in our office and in our residence to ensure that there were no classified materials that left the White House, or remained in our possession, and I remain confident that that was done in a thorough and careful way.
Former US Vice President, Mike Pence
The discovery of the classified documents at Pence's residence marks the third time in recent history in which a president or vice president has inappropriately possessed classified material after leaving office.
US investigators are already investigating ex President Donald Trump's possession of such files; roughly 300 records with classification markings, which were recovered from his Mar a Lago property.
Trump and his lawyers had resisted handing over the documents until the FBI raided his Florida holiday home last August. The search of Trump's property was the culmination of months of bickering between the government and Trump's representatives who resisted efforts to return the missing documents.
The FBI searched President Joe Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, residence for additional classified material; an unprecedented search of a sitting president's home, which turned up six additional classified items.
We found a handful of documents were filed in the wrong place. We immediately turned them over to the archives and Justice Department. We're fully cooperating, looking forward to getting this resolved quickly.
I think you're gonna [sic] find there's nothing there. I have no regrets. I'm following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do, exactly what we're doing.
US President, Joe Biden
The search was conducted after Biden's lawyers discovered classified material in Wilmington, following the initial discovery of classified documents at Biden's private office in November.
The new discoveries led to some criticism of the President even amongst Democrats.
While Democrats have defended the president, there have been clear indications of concern, and even frustration, amongst his allies in Congress that the White House hasn't handled the issue properly.
Well, of course, let's be honest about it. When that information is found, it diminishes the stature of any person who is in possession of it, because it's not supposed to happen.
Whether it was the fault of a staffer makes no difference. The elected official bears ultimate responsibility.
Senator Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois
President Biden's political outlook has now veered into more uncertain territory, the eighty year old President has already indicated his plans to seek a second term, but he has yet to make a final decision.
His allies believe he is likely to make a formal announcement after the end of March. No high profile Democrat has yet appeared willing to challenge Biden; however, some Democratic officials believe the new federal probe may help motivate an outside candidate.
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