Biden administration officials are briefing top congressional leaders on classified. Documents found in the possession of President Joe Biden. Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. Two sources familiar with the discussions said.
Officials have not yet scheduled a briefing because.
They said, an intelligence briefing is prioritized for the leaders. Over a diplomatic row . With China over a suspected spy balloon that floated over the U.S. before. One was shot down on Saturday, the sources said.
The intention was to have a briefing on the documents by the end of the week, the two officials said. The briefing on the documents will be for the congressional “Gang of Eight.” Top House and Senate leaders and the congressional intelligence committee, officials said.
This group represents congressional leaders. Who have the most access to classified information. And who aim to shape US foreign and domestic policy because. They are armed with sensitive information.
Some congressional leaders, including Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Have been displeased with the Justice Department’s inability so far to give. Them more information about what Trump’s documents cover.
Lawmakers argue that they can’t fix whatever.
s wrong with the country’s system for classifying. And preserving such material until they have a better. Understanding of what foreign material covers. One solution: Some senators wanted. The Intelligence Committee to issue subpoenas to the law enforcement agency. That usually does this — the Justice Department — to seek that information.
. That the Biden administration plans to brief congressional intelligence leaders.
. The President may, but, restrict information to certain committee leaders as necessary.
Republicans in Congress are demanding a briefing on documents seized. From Trump’s home in Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, material misclassified as part of the FBI’s.
Criminal investigation, some marked “top secret.”
Agents said they seized about 11,000 records. Including about 100 identified as classified.
Trump said the seizure was motivated and unnecessary. The National Archives and Records Administration. The legal custodian of the items, has tried to get. The documents returned to Trump many times since he left office in 2021. He was also with the former president.
In June, Trump’s lawyers turned over 38 other classified documents.The FBI disagreed and sought a warrant, requesting a search of Mar-a-Lago. Trump’s Palm Beach house and resort.
Trump sued the seizure, but his lawyers dropped the case.
The former president asked the US Supreme Court to intervene; Reject it.
He claimed that the seized documents belonged to him. He also claims that the FBI planted evidence to discredit him. Regardless, Trump said, he had the power as president to declassify content as he saw fit. Though there was no evidence or documentation of the declassification.
Under federal law, official White House papers are federal property.
,. Center think tank in Washington and at his home in Delaware. After working for two former vice presidents. — To avoid the legal questions Trump faces.
In January it was revealed that the National Archives had sent a letter to former.
Living presidents and staff members of vice presidents seeking. Classified material or government property.
It’s unclear what the Biden administration will share in the update, a source said. That the Director of National Intelligence and the Justice Department. Had not briefed congressional intelligence leaders about the documents. And their importance to U.S. security.
On todaystrend “Meet the Press” Sunday. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio. Shared news of the White House’s proposal to brief the eight gangs.
“The Biden administration has not implicated anyone in national security. On the issue of threats from these documents,” he said. “It took Congress to step in and say, ‘We want a security threat [assessment].’ And then they tried to deny us a briefing from that [balloon] threat.”
