Dem Rep. Johnson suggests Biden classified docs may have been planted

"I am confident, however, that the process has begun to ensure that we get to the truth, and that justice will be done."

By Ben Whedon

Published: January 12, 2023 5:07pm

Updated: January 12, 2023 5:36pm

Georgia Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson has suggested that classified documents discovered in multiple locations belonging to President Joe Biden may have been planted.

"Alleged classified documents showing up allegedly in the possession of Joseph Biden... I'm suspicious of the timing of it," he told Fox News. "I'm also aware of the fact that things can be planted on people... things can be planted in places and then discovered conveniently. That may be what has occurred here. I'm not ruling that out. But I'm open in terms of the investigation needs to be investigated."

"There remains much we don't know about the Biden document discoveries, and it's too early to reach any conclusions. I am confident, however, that the process has begun to ensure that we get to the truth, and that justice will be done," he added.

Reports emerged this week that a lawyer clearing out the president's office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington in November 2022 had discovered classified materials containing intelligence on Ukraine, Iran and the UK. A subsequent second batch of classified documents was discovered in Biden's Delaware home garage.

Biden appeared to have ink on his face after previously maligning former President Donald Trump for his own alleged mishandling of classified materials after the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate in August of 2022. Trump had previously complied with a grand jury subpoena and handed over classified materials to the agency.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Thursday that he would appoint Robert Hur as special counsel to handle the matter amid intense Republican pressure to do so. Garland previously appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to handle the Trump investigation.

Biden previously said he was "surprised" at the discovery of classified materials at the Penn Biden Center officer, but has confirmed he was aware of the documents in his Delaware garage.

"So the documents were in a locked garage?" Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked of him, prompting the president to reply "Yes, as well as my Corvette."