Report: DOJ won't bother having the FBI monitor Biden lawyers' 'search' for mishandled top-secret documents



The Department of Justice has determined that President Joe Biden's lawyers can be trusted to search his homes for improperly stored classified documents without FBI supervision, insiders told the Wall Street Journal.

This soft and complaisant approach stands in stark contrast to the DOJ's treatment of former President Donald Trump, despite the similarity of the presidents' alleged improprieties.

The FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence with guns drawn. When tearing through the property of the former president, the FBI reportedly showed no deference, taking whatever they wanted, including Trump's passport. FBI agents then parsed through the documents seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence for days after the their tactical raid on the premises.

In the case of Biden's potential mishandling of top-secret and classified documents, no guns have been unholstered. No raids have taken place.

According to the Wall Street Journal, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the DOJ has placed its confidence in the supposed honesty of Biden's lawyers because they had allegedly been cooperating and had turned over the first batch of unsecure top-secret documents in short order.

Biden's legal team reportedly discussed the possibility of having FBI agents present while they conducted subsequent searches, but "the two sides agreed" that the lawyers could dig around the president's Delaware properties in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, then notify the DOJ if anything turned up.

The New York Post reported that the agreement between Biden's legal team and the DOJ was sealed after the discovery of "intelligence memos and briefing materials" related to Ukraine, Iran, and the United Kingdom in Biden's private office last fall.

CBS News' Weijia Jiang asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, "You’ve repeatedly emphasized the need — just as you did today — for independence, for the integrity of the Department of Justice investigation, [which is] one reason why you continue to point us to the DOJ. So I wonder, why then did the White House counsel go to Wilmington to facilitate the handing-over of documents to the DOJ?"

Jean-Pierre noted she appreciated the question, but didn't provide an answer.

Jiang did not relent, however; noting how the White house has repeatedly suggested "how much it is important to this White House to separate the White House from the DOJ’s investigation. ... But the White House counsel was the one to go and facilitate documents, to look for the documents."

The White House press secretary added, "Again, they’ve been working very closely with the Department of Justice."

Biden has reportedly dodged "more aggressive actions by law enforcement" thanks to this "cooperation" between his lawyers and the DOJ.

Law enforcement officials told the Wall Street Journal that what may appear to be the DOJ's deference to the Biden White House may actually be a tactic enabling it to later "take a tougher line, including executing a future search warrant, if negotiations ever turned hostile."

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said, "The outrageous double standard of the corrupt DOJ and FBI, which have been weaponized against Joe Biden’s political opponents, could not be more clear."

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) similarly suggested that this amounts to a double standard:

\u201cWhy was President Trump\u2019s home raided but not President Biden\u2019s? \n\nWhy did the FBI take pictures of President Trump\u2019s so-called classified documents but not President Biden\u2019s?\n\nAmericans are tired of the double standard.\u201d
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Rep. Jim Jordan) 1673972839

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland last week, stating, "The double standard here is astounding. The underlying behavior at issue—a President’s retention of old classified documents dating back to a past presidency—is materially the same in both cases."

"But in President Trump’s case, that retention triggered an unprecedented raid on the home of a former president, rationalized with a thicket of partisan doublespeak. President Biden has not experienced anything remotely similar," he added. "Your Department's apparent disparate treatment of these two cases thus far isn't especially surprising, because today's FBI leadership is growing more partisan by the day."

While Biden appears to have the DOJ's cooperation, there are yet some with Democrat affinities who regard the president with disdain, such as Walter Shaub, ethics chief in the Obama administration.

TheBlaze reported that Shaub recently suggested that Biden's "retention of classified records reflects an inexcusable neglect of the most basic security protocols."

A handful of other Democrats including Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), have suggested that the president's handling of classified documents was shameful, with some calling it "an embarrassment."

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Far-left Democrat offers shock praise for House Republican amid speaker chaos: 'I respect that a lot more'



Far-left Rep. Ted Lieu offered surprising praise for a House Republican on Wednesday.

Lieu, a Democrat from Hawaii, commended Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) for standing on his principles — talking the talk and walking the walk.

"I don't agree with [Roy] on most issues. But I believe that he believes in what he says," Lieu said. "I respect that a lot more than Republicans like [Kevin McCarthy] and [Elise Stefanik] who will say anything to gain power."

\u201cI don\u2019t agree with @chiproytx on most issues. But I believe that he believes in what he says. I respect that a lot more than Republicans like @GOPLeader and @EliseStefanik who will say anything to gain power. Will be interesting to see if folks like Chip Roy stand up or fold.\u201d
— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1672838844

Roy is one of the leading figures campaigning against Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to become House speaker. As of Wednesday afternoon, McCarthy had lost five consecutive ballots for the speakership.

A faction of 20 Republican lawmakers is blocking McCarthy's bid. They believe that electing McCarthy to be House speaker will empower the political status quo.

"What I'm not going to do is blindly do what the swamp does. My constituents didn't send me here to do that," Roy said Tuesday on Fox News. "Is anybody listening to this actually happy with what Congress is doing? Is anybody out there? Are you? Anybody in America, do you think Congress is doing a good job? The answer is no."

"So, why would we embrace the status quo? Why would we keep doing the same thing over and over again? That is what is happening in the room," he said.

Anything else?

Republican infighting has temporarily rendered the House of Representatives powerless because, as the New York Times explained, "law and precedents state that the House must elect a speaker before lawmakers take any other action."

From the Times:

Without a speaker, the United States House of Representatives essentially becomes a useless entity. With no sworn members, there are no lawmakers to make an official response to an emergency or a crisis. With no rules adopted, the legislative process cannot move forward; no bills can be passed or resolutions adopted.

As of Wednesday afternoon, House members-elect were voting on a sixth ballot for speaker. By the time of publication, 11 Republicans had already voted against McCarthy, meaning the vote will go to a seventh ballot.

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney claims that 'The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism'



GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming on Monday accused House Republican leadership of enabling racism.

"The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism. History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them," Cheney tweeted.

In response to Cheney's post, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele tweeted, "Word."

"She's right, you know... " leftist MSNBC host Joy Reid tweeted..

"My colleague has it right," Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. of New Jersey tweeted. "You can draw a direct line from the dangerous rhetoric and incitement of trump and gop leaders and the violence of rampaging neo-nazis, militia maniacs, Capitol insurrectionists and other rightwing domestic terrorists."

My colleague has it right. You can draw a direct line from the dangerous rhetoric and incitement of trump and gop leaders and the violence of rampaging neo-nazis, militia maniacs, Capitol insurrectionists and other rightwing domestic terrorists.https://twitter.com/liz_cheney/status/1526159124840558592\u00a0\u2026
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Bill Pascrell, Jr. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1652710349

Cheney's tweet came after a white 18-year-old man perpetrated a shooting on Saturday at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The attack left 10 people dead, all of whom were black — three others people were wounded, including two white people and one black person, according to the Associated Press. The individual has been arraigned on a murder charge, but has pleaded not guilty.

"How do we know Liz Cheney is correct?" Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California tweeted. "Because @GOPLeader refuses to condemn white replacement theory, which radicalized Buffalo murderer. And MAGA Republican @EliseStefanik ran ads promoting the vile, racist and anti-Semitic replacement theory."

In a statement, Stefanik senior adviser Alex deGrasse has rejected the idea that Stefanik ever promoted racism.

"Any implication or attempt to blame the heinous shooting in Buffalo on the Congresswoman is a new disgusting low for the Left, their Never Trump allies, and the sycophant stenographers in the media," deGrasse said in the statement. "Despite sickening and false reporting, Congresswoman Stefanik has never advocated for any racist position or made a racist statement."

pic.twitter.com/o4qeQK6ADx
— Elise Stefanik (@Elise Stefanik) 1652700792

Last year, Cheney was kicked out of a House leadership role. The congresswoman was one of the 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching then-President Donald Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. In May, 2021, the outspoken Trump critic was was ousted from her role as House Republican conference chair. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York was later selected to fill the slot.

Cheney and GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois are the only two Republicans serving on the House select committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 episode. The congresswoman, who has served in the House since 2017, is seeking re-election, but Trump has endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman who is vying to defeat Cheney in the GOP primary.

Cheney is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who served alongside President George W. Bush.

Helicopters rescue Americans from US Embassy in Kabul despite Biden promising it would not happen: 'This is Joe Biden's Saigon'



President Joe Biden's failure in Afghanistan was put on prominent display Sunday when American Chinook helicopters were seen flying over the Afghanistan capital city of Kabul, transporting Americans from the U.S. Embassy to the city's airport.

The stunning visual drew countless comparisons to the infamous withdrawal in 1975 of Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. Worse yet, Communist China seized on the moment to mock America.

What are the details?

Taliban fighters entered Kabul on Sunday to negotiate a "peaceful surrender," the group claimed, NBC reported. Taliban fighters allegedly entered the city without arms upon instructions from senior Taliban leaders.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told NBC News the terrorist group does not "wish to take revenge" on Afghan citizens, including in the government and military, that opposed them. Mujahid claimed such people would be "forgiven" by the terrorist group.

Still, the group is demanding an unconditional surrender by the Afghanistan government.

The impending fall of Kabul, and of all Afghanistan, comes after Taliban seized huge swaths of the country in just over a week. As the Associated Press reported, American military assessments earlier indicated "it would be a month before the capital would come under insurgent pressure."

What was the reaction?

The stunning images of helicopters flying to the U.S. Embassy drew comparisons to the rapid removal of U.S. Embassy workers in Saigon as then-North Vietnamese communist soldiers seized Saigon, the capital city of South Vietnam, in April 1975.

PHOTO 1: US diplomat evacuate US from embassy via helicopter as the #Taliban enter #Kabul from all sides.… https://t.co/xwaafUsT1M

— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) 1629021757.0

Saigon 1975Kabul today https://t.co/JP7SNgq6Ra

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) 1629030573.0

Two iconic images clicked 45 years apart. The US Embassy staff fleeing from Saigon (top) and Kabul (bottom).Never… https://t.co/I55y8T5XxH

— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) 1629015950.0

Shades of Saigon indeed. https://t.co/hiKZ18XPST

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) 1629018231.0

"This is Joe Biden's Saigon. A disastrous failure on the international stage that will never be forgotten — meanwhile Joe is on vacation," Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said.

This is Joe Biden’s Saigon. A disastrous failure on the international stage that will never be forgotten - meanwh… https://t.co/NmkZuEblD1

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) 1629027450.0

Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei, who Twitter indicates is "Chinese state-affiliated media," noted the comparison to mock America.

Similar helicopter over U.S. embassy and history will mark today.The Fall of Saigon, American troops withdrew from… https://t.co/CoGqxV546D

— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) 1629029059.0

Shiwei also mocked Biden, noting that he was a sitting U.S. senator in 1975 when Saigon fell.

An interesting part of history.Joe Biden had already been a Senator for 2 years amid the Fall of Saigon in 1975,… https://t.co/mpdAws5jdc

— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) 1629029647.0

What did Biden promise?

On July 8 — just a little more than five weeks ago — Biden specifically promised that Kabul would not become the new Saigon, and that the world would not see American helicopters rescuing American workers from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Biden's declaration was made in response to a question from a reporter who asked Biden if he saw "parallels between this withdrawal and what happened in Vietnam," noting that "some Vietnamese veterans see echoes of their experience in this withdrawal in Afghanistan."

"None whatsoever. Zero," Biden responded.

"The Taliban is not the south— the North Vietnamese army. They're not remotely comparable in terms of capability. There's going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of a embassy of the United States from Afghanistan," Biden promised. "It is not at all comparable."