>


Is it possible? Sure!

Sure, everything is possible... but we don't impeach people based on something being possible to happen. We impeach people based on something actually happening.
Believe it or not, there is a process for declassification that doesn’t involve mentally declassifying them between sips of diet coke. >

Yup. Whether or not he have this power there is no indication he used it and therefore this is a non issue. >

More importantly, President Biden hasn't tried to wriggle his way out of this by claiming he declassified those documents or tried to distract people by saying that he *could have and therefore so what.
President Biden with his normal sized, and not tiny, hands is demonstrating what BDE looks like, and what a mature adult does when they screw up: he is owning it and not making excuses.  He is the example our children (and adults) need, not a bad example. >

The most transparent administration in history withheld the Information from us for months so it wouldn't hurt the mid terns. Is that the example we want to set for our children? Hide your mistakes until it's convenient for you to admit them. >

I know for one, when I make a mistake I immediately scream out any info I have to whomever might listen, regardless of clarifying what happened. >

I assume that in addition to not doing that you also didn't promise to be transparent in all things. Listen, I don't think it's a big deal for either person. Watching both sides jump through hoops while ignoring their own wrongdoing to blame the other side makes everyone seem disingenuous. >

It's a huge deal for either person. Classified documents are classified for a reason. One side ignoring notifications, a subpoena, and then having to be raided isn't in any way the same as the other side discovering things that weren't being looked for and volunteering them. That's were we stand right now. 
Murderers and jay walkers are both "criminals", but they aren't the same. >

And the other side says the same shit and you both sound like assholes. >

I don't care what milquetoast BS anyone says and neither should you. They're almost all lawyers. Lawyers are shifty assholes. This isn't news to most people above their early 20's. Actions. Actions are what matters. >

Who cares?
He hasn't claimed that he declassified any documents (with his mind or otherwise). >

This entire line of inquiry is a distraction. Whether the documents are declassified is not relevant to the criminal charges against Trump. Even if the docs were declassified, Trump committed a crime by not returning them upon government request. >

I hate Trump with a passion but that’s a weak crime.  Incomplete responses to subpoenas happen all the time, inadvertently or otherwise (I’m also a lawyer).  Biden’s sloppiness killed this issue, time to let it go.  It sucks but it is what it is >


Biden’s sloppiness killed this issue, time to let it go. It sucks but it is what it is

That's not at all how any of this works, Mr. Lawyer. >

Really?  Because when my adversary does something shady, but my client also did a superficially similar thing that can be spun to make him look like a big dumb hypocrite, I begrudgingly drop that argument 10/10 times >

Neat. If you think that's analogous in any way to Trump's handling of US government classified documents, you're sorely mistaken. >

Analogous to Biden’s decision to prosecute Trump for his mishandling?  In the context of public opinion (which is not at all nuanced)?  Sure it is. >

“Biden’s decision to prosecute Trump….”
You seem somewhat confused here. I would think a lawyer would know better. >

The AG has the ultimate authority to overrule the special counsel’s indictment recommendation (subject to an amorphous standard that doesn’t practically constrain the AG).  The President is the AG’s boss and in charge of the entire executive branch. >

The National Archive informed Trump which documents he had and requested their return. It wasn't big news no one cared. Trump lied the National Archive and claimed not to have them. 
National Archive and FBI got a court order for the documents, sat Trump down and read Trump the subpoena, and it still wasn't news. Trump refused to return the documents. 
The FBI raided Mar-a-logo. It was huge news. Start to finish took over a year. Had Trump cooperated at any point before the raid the matter never would have been news worthy. 
Now in Biden's case Republicans are falling over themselves to cry about documents and claim bothsidism. To be clear Trump lied to authorities and refused to abide with a court order. >

I heard a good analogy on the radio the other day. 
Imagine you’re shopping in a store with your toddler. You’ve done your shopping and are in your car getting ready to head home when you notice that your toddler has grabbed something from a shelf that you didn’t notice and you’ve inadvertently stolen something. 
There are two options from this point. 
A) Return to the store, explain the situation or offer to pay for the item, whatever it is that will make the situation right. 
B) Shrug it off, decide to try to hide the crime and hope that the store doesn’t have cameras and they don’t catch you. 
Biden did A, which is the right thing to do in a situation. Trump did B, which is a scummy, shitty thing to do. >

Trump didn't just do B. Security came out and said "Hey we think you stole something"   and Trump just ignored them and drove off anyway. >

It's more than even that.
Trump is acting just like Fagin in Oliver Twist actively training his toddler to filch items from stores. >

Upvoting this comment like the Dickens. >

If you're wondering why this is news, it is certainly news to the posters in the pro-Trump groups whose mantra is, "Trump could declassify and Biden couldn't." >

It was never about the truth with them. They'll just make up another reason. 
But it can be helpful to watch them struggle with it >

Like somehow Trump stolen and refused to returned documents were safer and more ethical than returning documents on their own accord, that the government didn't even know were in his hands. >


that the government didn't even know were in his hands.

On the whole, which is worse?  That our government had missing confidential documents for six years and didn't know it or that they had missing confidential documents for two years and did know it?
Not from the Trump/Biden side of things, but just as a general observation of the whole process. >

I think did know is worse cause they knew the documents were high importance. Government classify everything so they don't need to explain, not always because they need to for safety. >


A March 2003 executive order signed by President George W. Bush empowered the vice president to classify sensitive materials. That same executive order grants declassification powers to “the official who authorized the original classification” or “a supervisor official.”  
Under the executive order, vice presidents are granted the power to declassify documents they classified themselves. But it’s unclear if the vice president would be viewed as “a supervisory official” with the ability to declassify sensitive documents from the CIA and other intelligence agencies.

Although it isn't really important because neither of them declassified their documents. >

It doesn't really matter whether they were declassified anyway.  The real issue is the documents belong to the federal government and should have been turned over when they left office. >

I'm so confused... If Republicans successfully bring legal action against Biden, doesn't that also imply that Trump is AT LEAST (probably more) guilty of a crime?
Is this what "cutting off your nose to spite your face" looks like? >

That's why they're going in so hard on the "he can't declassify" thing:
"Trump isn't guilty because he mentally declassified anything that would get him into trouble, but Biden COULDN'T DO THAT, ergo Biden can be charged and investigated and probed but Trump is innocent!!"
The Deep State hates this one weird trick! >

There is no there here...  All this is to take the focus of the trainwreck of the republicans... This is how they distract ....because they have no plan of lowering gas prices, inflation, crime etc etc.. All the bullshit that then ran on... >

USAToday, WTF? Biden made no claim that he declassified any documents. >

No, but for some reason "a VP can't declassify docs" is a huge talking point on the right and this just addresses that. >

Oh, a typical arrogantly ignorant and irrelevant GQP talking point. Always distracting from their greed, hatred, bigotry, intolerance and crimes. >

But did he stand up and declare loudly "I declassify these documents"?   
Oh yea, he's not claiming he did. >

Doesn’t matter. Biden’s documents were also included when Trump performed his mental declassification séance.  Now try to prove that’s not true and Trump only included his documents.   Go ahead I’ll wait… >

Ok but when the president/vice president request that something be declassified, that request has to be processed thru IC to make sure declassification wouldn't harm national security. They cant just have a classified document in their possession and decide to declassify that document in that moment and then its declassified. Trump's a moron >

agreed but try explaining that to 50% if the country. fact is the voters will call a spade a spade. We have to hold Joe to the same standard and this means either we investigate seriously or back off Trump for that one particular thing. We only have 10,000 more things to nail Trump on… 
Unless you want us to just lose in 2024…
Sucks but it’s reality. >

Facts don't matter to MAGA >

It doesn't matter.  At all.
Yes, the situations are completely different.  I get all that.  But to the average joe (No pun intended), it doesn't matter.  Both Biden and Trump had classified documents in their possession that they should not have had, and in both cases those documents were unaccounted for and not kept in secure locations.  To me, the real focus should be on NARA and the fact that my local library apparently keeps better track of its books than NARA does on top-secret national security documents.  But that's a different discussion.
The last thing we need is for Biden to start going down the path of random excuses that Trump did until he stumbles upon one that sticks.  The fact that these documents exist already give Trump a huge amount of breathing room and adds significant weight to the case that Presidents and VPs routinely take documents out of secure facilities and misplaces them, which is guaranteed to be his defense on the off chance that he ever actually gets charged.   Attempting to make excuses for Biden is only going to make a bad situation even worse.  
The fact that Biden may have had the authority to declassify documents may be 100% true, but it's also 100% irrelevant and little more than a distraction that will probably do more harm than good if he decides to go down this road, because any excuse he gives to absolve himself of culpability will simply be used by Trump in his legal defense. >


will simply be used by Trump in his legal defense.

No it won't. Even if Trump declassified the documents, that is not a defense to the charges he is being investigated for. "Declassification" is not a defense to violating 18 U.S.C. 793, 2071, and 1519.
This entire line of inquiry is just a huge distraction. It literally does not matter whether the documents were declassified. >

If someone has the authority to declassify, and documents are found marked "classified", it's not a get out of jail free card. Hopefully, Congress dumps additional funding into those departments that have to deal with tracking classified material because the current system isn't working.
sidenote: I don't believe Biden still having those documents were intentional. I believe Trump's actions were purely intentional. But hey, with Marjorie on the Homeland Security committee, I'm sure she'll fix the problem.  🙄 >

Yeah the bad part with this whole thing is that the National Archive didn't notice them missing. Like don't they have audits or something? >

You cant declassify docs you didnt know you had.
Biden was not careful enough but all indications are that he was not willfully violating security standards unlike the other guy. 
Something tells me that both of them have a password written on a post-it note and taped to their monitor. >

It's under the keyboard much more secure. >

It’s an irrelevant argument that is only brought up in an effort to deflect from trumps crimes. These two cases are vastly different. If Biden was improper with handling those documents he will accept the consequences. If trump was improper with his documents he will blame the woke media or Hilary’s emails and claim that he declassified them with a wave of his wand. >

Lol, no he didn't >

Show me the documentation that shows he declassified it previous to bringing to his home. I doubt it. >

No, it just also invalidates Trump’s excuse of declassification. Neither declassified the documents in their possession.
Course there are so many other differences too. >

AFAIK Biden never claimed he declassified them. That was trump, who claimed he declassified them by “thinking about it”. 
Biden said “hey, I have these documents and I shouldn’t, so I’m going to give them back”. >

There is a comfy job at OANN waiting for this reporter. >

we can’t have it both ways. Sorry.
Trump fucked up hard. And his defense that he can declassify whatever he wants is bullshit. 
However, we must hold Joe to the same standard lest we become empty people. >

Really though there are differences in the facts of both cases.
Bidens team turned over docs when they found them.
Trump fought with the Archives for like a year in court before he was raided. At every step Trump claimed he didnt have any documents and when documents were found there was an excuse. He claimed he declassified them. When no record of that action turned up, he claimed he could declassify stuff just by thinking about it.
I'm all for prosecuting crimes committed by public officials, but lets not pretend we're dealing with the same magnitude of situation with both of these... >

They did not turn them over when they found them. The information was covered up until after the midterms. Democrats manipulated and hid the facts until politically continent. Trump was just being a dick. >

This is stupid. It's 10 to 12 docs versus 130. Given back versus stolen. A decent person versus a criminal. 
I dont care what Republicans say about anything anymore, not when the sit and give committee spots to Grorge Santos and do nothing for American people. >

But....he didn't? Lol >

No, no he didn’t. Please don’t spread false information. >

You might be surprised by how many people have the power to declassify documents in the government. >

So why exactly is the federal government seizing these documents if it was ‘all good’ and legal. Trump fucked up, so did Biden and I’m sure countless others. What’s your point? It’s obvious this was not okay. >

To be clear: trump didn't fuck up his actions were intentional and he tried keep what he took.  Where as based on the information we have right now Biden does seem to have fucked up, but is trying to make it right. >

Well that certainly is the story they’re telling. But I’m not sure how old you are or what you experienced in your life both personally or through the media, but please, I beg you, don’t believe everything youre told or what you want to believe in. Often times the truth is darker than you’d expect. >

I honestly believe critical thinking skills just aren't being taught anymore in school. The older I get the more I realize everyone has a narrative and the truth (or what makes the most sense because we'll probably never know all the un-redacted information for anything anymore) is usually somewhere in the middle.
Can this person do this or that?
Well yes, but in this case specifically?
Maybe yes, maybe no, depends on content we'll never be privy  to. >

Neat. Still is avoiding why. Why not return or destroy these documents when done. Why, why find them in anywhere but a secure location? What do these peoples assistants do all day?! I mean as soon as Trump started this I as a politician would have jumped up grabbed a group of my assistants and said he are the keys for every property, every nook and cranny. GO find anything related to classified documents! Get them gone, use proper channels! Do whatever it takes to be above board on this. Plus if you run into a situation where you have an election coming up fine. Gather up everything get it in lockboxes at these locations, setup armed guards at doors to these room, then when appropriate return them in total. Yes it’s still night and day between Trump and Biden, but it still looks very suspect right now. >


I mean as soon as Trump started this I as a politician would have jumped up grabbed a group of my assistants and said he are the keys for every property, every nook and cranny. GO find anything related to classified documents! 

Kinda like what Biden’s lawyers are currently doing? >

Nah seems like it started months and months later… >

Do you have a source showing when they started looking? >

Nope! But if it’s taken them months to search through his properties then that seems sad on some level… especially on the idea that he would have THAT many places in which to mislay these documents… >

So, you want thorough searches, but only if they don’t take longer than you think they should? >

Sigh how long does it take 1 person to search a home? A business? Months seem excessive… especially when as a high official your probably have access to more than just one person… >

Came here for all the Trump is different comments. Was not disappointed. >


Came here for all the Trump is different comments. Was not disappointed.

Great... looks like you knew already that Trump is different. >

Yeah, duck that. I don’t want to give trumps lawyers a leg to stand on. >

Amazing that people actually believe he “forgot” about them? So is he that dumb or are or you? >

Fact check: iTs DiFferRenT CuZ ItS bIDen. 
Listen, I’m no trump supporter but the mental gymnastics going on is hilarious. >

It’s weird that they took that quote out of the article. Couldn’t find it for some reason. >

I heard he can do it with his mind. >

Were they necessarily sensitive documents, or were they just transcripts of his calls with other foreign leaders that he kept to review and refresh his memory? >

Take that assholes, Biden had magic mind power declassification too! >

Nice try Biden. I know you posted this article. >

It doesn't really matter if he could or not. Biden should be impeached and censured based on what we know so far. I think we need to wait for a full investigation as to if he should be removed. >

First we investigate then we charge (if the evidence supports it.) 
That is how this went with Trump, and that is how it'll go with Biden. The investigation into Trump revealed that he knowingly took them, that they were a special level of classified, that they were a part of an investigation, that he lied about it, refused to return them, etc. 
So far we don't have answers to those questions regarding Biden except that he is cooperating with the investigation. >

That is for criminal offense and sending people to jail which is not what I called for. Censure and impeachment are not about criminal offenses. We know enough to do both. What Biden did was wrong regardless if it was an accident. He should face political sanctions for it. As for criminal prosecution, that should be fully investigated before a decision is made. >

Biden was wrong to have classified documents while he was VP? >

No, he was wrong for storing them improperly >

Did he personally store them? Or did some aide empty his office and miss a file folder? >

Is it possible? Sure! Is it more plausible that Biden took classified data he see every day and took it to HIS house, in HIS garage, next to HIS Corvette. Yes