'It's an embarrassment': Democrats express shame over Biden's apparent mishandling of secret documents



The recent revelations about President Joe Biden's improper retention of top-secret documents have prompted some Democrats to embrace absurd conspiracy theories about who is really to blame. Others have downplayed the severity of the scandal.

A handful of Democrats have now admitted that the recent turn of events painting the Democratic president as a hypocrite are "embarrassing."

What are the details?

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "it's certainly embarrassing" that Biden should be caught having done precisely what he castigated former President Donald Trump for allegedly doing.

"From my perspective, it's one of those moments that obviously they wish hadn't happened," said Stabenow.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) concurred that the debacle ought to be a source of shame, telling "Fox News Sunday" that "It's an embarrassment, no doubt about it."

"I can only – in fact, I don't need to imagine, I know exactly what President Biden said when he was informed that these documents were found in his office in Washington, and that was an 'Oh,' followed by a four-letter expletive," added Garamendi.

Fellow California Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told ABC's "This Week" that Congress cannot "exclude the possibility" that Biden, through his mishandling of classified documents — more of which turned up over the weekend in the president's Delaware home — compromised national security.

Extra to special counsel Robert Hur's investigation into possible impropriety committed by Biden, Schiff suggested Congress should assess "whether there was an exposure to others of these documents, whether there was harm to national security," but intimated that such an assessment would also be used to look into Trump's handling of classified documents.

\u201cRep. Adam Schiff, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, tells @JonKarl that Attorney General Garland made the right move by appointing a special counsel in Biden documents case. \n\n\u201cI still would like to see Congress do its own assessment.\u201d https://t.co/ndQmL4Gr7U\u201d
— This Week (@This Week) 1673794965

Schiff previously suggested that Trump's storage of sensitive documents in a guarded, locked environment — not a garage — was an indication that the former president was a public menace with a cavalier attitude toward hard-won critical information.

Schiff also penned a letter to the director of national intelligence, stating, "Those entrusted with access to classified information have a duty and an obligation to protect it."

Congress and the security community should "take all necessary steps to protect classified information and mitigate the damage to national security done by its compromise is critically important," Schiff added.

Concerning the investigation into the Democrat president's potential crimes, Schiff said over the weekend, "I'd like to know what these documents were. I'd like to know what the [special counsel's] assessment is, whether there was any risk of exposure and what the harm would be and whether any mitigation needs to be done."

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) underscored the gravity of the situation.

"Classified documents are to be taken seriously and they are to be handled with a great deal of care, and no one is above the law," Warnock told "This Week," adding, "So I’m glad to see the Justice Department doing its work, and we ought to let that work proceed. … Nobody’s above the law. And we need to get to the bottom of this so that we don’t see this kind of thing happen again."

When pressed on whether the White House — which knew about the classified documents before the midterm elections — should have told the public earlier, Warnock answered, "The Justice Department is engaged in the investigation and that's one of the questions that I think they will explore. And I don't want to get in front of that investigation."

One Clinton campaign veteran told The Hill, "Everyone can say what they want, but this weakens him, full stop. ... This is just one of those things that will stick around and won’t go away."

The Clinton aide added, "It just creates the question. 'If he's being this frivolous with the documents in the garage with his Corvette, who knows what else he's doing?'"

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod told Reuters the Biden scandal was an "embarrassment"; "basically ... a huge gift to Trump."

Not all are convinced that Democrats' expressions of embarrassment and concern over Biden's latest scandal are in any way sincere.

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) suggested last week that the timely discovery and announcement of these documents and the resultant efforts by Democrats to distance themselves from the president may altogether be "a way to get rid of Joe Biden."

"They don't want this man to run for president again. He's a recipe for disaster in the next presidential election," said Jackson.

\u201cRonny Jackson says he believes that the Biden docs that were found is part of a conspiracy by Democratic operatives to set Biden up and force him to resign because they don\u2019t want him to run in 2024.\u201d
— Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1673531852

Trial lawyer Neama Rahmani suggested this is an unlikely strategy, given that the threat of criminal charges would serve as a disincentive for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race.

Rahmani told Newsweek that if Biden "is really worried about being prosecuted, that makes it more likely he will run in 2024, not less."

Whether or not it would be sound strategy, the timing of these revelations has nevertheless prompted some to wonder, especially since the documents have allegedly sat unsecure in various locations, including by Biden's gas-guzzling Corvette, for years.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) tweeted, "What prompted them to look for Joe Biden’s classified documents?"

\u201cWhat prompted them to look for Joe Biden\u2019s classified documents?\u201d
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Rep. Jim Jordan) 1673887512

Despite acknowledging he "could drop dead tomorrow," Biden told MSNBC's Rev. Al Sharpton in September that he was "going to do it again ... I'm going," referencing a 2024 attempt at reelection.

According to the latest Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research poll, 52% of the nation disapproves of the job Biden is doing, with 42% strongly disapproving and only 26% strongly approving.

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Liz Cheney vows to support opponents of election-denying Republicans – even if it means helping to elect Democrats



Liz Cheney, a GOP representative for Wyoming, is vowing to support opponents of Republican election deniers – even if that means helping Democrats defeat members of her own party. Cheney pledged to help Democrats during an appearance on ABC's "This Week."

"We've got election deniers that have been nominated for really important positions all across the country," Cheney said on Sunday morning.

"I'm going to be very focused on working to ensure that we do everything we can, not to elect election deniers," Cheney declared. "I'm going to work against those people, I’m going to work to support their opponents. I think it matters that much."

Cheney promised to get involved in campaigns to oust any Republicans who challenge or deny the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Among those Republicans who Cheney would not support is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – who is a top GOP presidential candidate for 2024 along with former President Donald Trump.

"I think that DeSantis is somebody who is, right now, campaigning for election deniers," she said, according to USA Today. "And I think that, you know, that is something that I think people have got to have real pause about. You know, either you fundamentally believe in and will support our constitutional structure, or you don't."

Despite Cheney suffering a humiliating loss to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in last week's Wyoming Republican primary, "This Week" host Jonathan Karl asked Cheney about her presidential aspirations and if she would even run as a Republican.

"I haven't made any specific decisions or plans about that at this point," she said, and would not reveal if she would run as an independent or not.

"Look, you run for president because you believe you would be the best – the best candidate, because you believe you'd be the best president of the United States," Cheney stated. "And so, any decision that I make about doing something that significant and that serious would be with the intention of winning and because I think I would be the best candidate."

The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney claimed that the Republican National Committee and Trump would fear her as a presidential candidate.

"I can understand why they would not want me on a debate stage with Donald Trump," she said. "I can understand why they wouldn't want it, and I would imagine Donald Trump isn't too interested in that either."

A Morning Consult poll from earlier this month for the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 had Trump as the frontrunner with 56% of the vote. Cheney garnered a mere 2% support.

Cheney said she plans to "educate" Americans about the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"I'm also going to spend a lot of time doing everything I can to help educate the American people about what happened. And I think our hearings have been a tremendous contribution to that," Cheney said.

\u201cAfter her primary defeat, GOP Rep. Liz Cheney tells @jonkarl that she will focus on working to keep election deniers out of office. \n\n\u201cI\u2019m going to work against those people, I'm going to work to support their opponents. I think it matters that much.\u201d https://t.co/ztgdHLNV99\u201d
— This Week (@This Week) 1661089027

Over the weekend, a video compilation of Democrats denying or questioning the presidential election results resurfaced. The 10-minute compilation from the research team of the Republican National Committee features Democrats denying the results of the presidential elections of 2000, 2004, and 2016.

\u201cMUST WATCH: 10 minutes of Democrats denying election results.\u201d
— RNC Research (@RNC Research) 1656012788

Post-debate media roundup: Poor boys, Abraham Lincoln and Hunter Biden



The final debate before the 2020 presidential election saw the two candidates punching hard at each other, but neither struck a knockout blow. Most commentators thought NBC News moderator Kristen Welker did a much better job and the muting of microphones seemed to aid in keeping the discussion civil and more intelligible.

Here are some of the more interesting reactions to the debate from social media.

Many people were glad that Hunter Biden was made an issue:

Hunter is a bigger story tomorrow because Biden preposterously claimed that the laptop was Russian disinformation.… https://t.co/5eJQFOmVwL
— Andy McCarthy (@Andy McCarthy)1603421594.0
Not heard from Biden: those emails are fake. The laptop isn’t Hunter’s.
— Megyn Kelly (@Megyn Kelly)1603417145.0
Biden is challenging Trump to bring up Hunter right now. Let ‘er rip, tater chip.
— Dana Loesch (@Dana Loesch)1603416491.0
Biden is rattled because you can use your next words are gonna be about his crimes and HUNTER.. Hit him with your best shot!
— Kirstie Alley (@Kirstie Alley)1603416513.0

While many thought it wasn't enough on the topic:

I’m sorry but 30 secs on the Hunter allegations is a joke.
— Megyn Kelly (@Megyn Kelly)1603417172.0

Biden sarcastically referred to the president as Abraham Lincoln and he didn't quite get it:

Thanks to this exchange, Abraham Lincoln was trending on Twitter briefly. But unfortunately for Biden, Twitter noticed he mistook the "poor boys" for what he meant, which was "Proud Boys," a far-right organization:

Who are the Poor Boys? #Debates2020
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1603419557.0
Isn’t poor boys a sandwich?
— Dana Loesch (@Dana Loesch)1603419802.0
I'm naming my new band Abe Lincoln and the Poor Boys.
— Noam Blum (@Noam Blum)1603419716.0
i’m just a poor boys, nobody loves me
— Siraj Hashmi (@Siraj Hashmi)1603419626.0
Poor boys vs Proud Boys https://t.co/znLLHjY11t
— Matthew Yglesias (@Matthew Yglesias)1603419816.0

Even some of his critics admitted the president did better than in the first debate.

stylistically, Trump was much, much better tonightsubstantively, characteristically weak. high nonsense quotient
— John Harwood (@John Harwood)1603421428.0
Trump won this debate, handily. Biden wasn’t a force at all. Trump was substantive, on-point, well-tempered. Defini… https://t.co/pXx7hCsrmH
— Megyn Kelly (@Megyn Kelly)1603420545.0

And they had to admit that Biden issued an enormous lie during the debate:

CNN FACT CHECK: "So in this case, Trump is correct. Biden did make anti-fracking comments during the Democratic pri… https://t.co/fbNrF49q93
— Steven Cheung (@Steven Cheung)1603423898.0

According to Paula Reid of CBS, the president stuck to their plan with at least two points:

.@PaulaReidCBS explains how advisers say @realDonaldTrump succeeded on two key points in his #Debates2020 strategy:… https://t.co/LlwHWpKO5F
— Face The Nation (@Face The Nation)1603421284.0

ABC News' Jon Karl said Trump didn't do any damage, but didn't do enough to change the race either.

.@jonkarl says Trump allies were "relieved" with Pres. Trump's debate performance, but "did it do enough to change… https://t.co/f3ZKl1BTFo
— ABC News (@ABC News)1603422350.0

CNN host Jake Tapper complimented Trump, then called him a liar:

"It’s fair to say that Trump supporters and Republican office holders can relax for the night. They can exhale. He… https://t.co/ov7Sc4Rpbj
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@Anderson Cooper 360°)1603422862.0

And MSNBC was cheerleading for Biden:

And they were making excuses for Biden's past policies on imprisoning black males:

Van Jones was not impressed with the appeal to African Americans by Trump during the debate:

“I don’t think most African-Americans feel that we have a President that really understands the pain that we’re goi… https://t.co/1yRFZRXUv6
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@Anderson Cooper 360°)1603424033.0

Even Biden complimented the moderator after the debate:

Biden on the tarmac in TN just now on how he feels tonight's debate went: "Well that’s for the public to judge. I f… https://t.co/m4jdgeWSYc
— Johnny Verhovek (@Johnny Verhovek)1603423240.0

Norah O'Donnell of CBS said it was more substantive, and that the muting of the microphones worked:

.@norahodonnell on the second Trump-Biden debate: "It was as if the muting of the microphones worked, or each of th… https://t.co/ldZchGoKBX
— CBS News (@CBS News)1603421293.0

Here are the numbers for the debate:

Our @CBSNews count for tonight's debate:Candidate Speaking TimeDonald Trump: 40:24Joe Biden: 37:22 Questions… https://t.co/POVcAdgN1U
— Sarah Ewall-Wice (@Sarah Ewall-Wice)1603422947.0

And as always, there were jokes:

That’s it! I am not voting for Hunter Biden.
— Bill Maher (@Bill Maher)1603417173.0
CNN’s @ddale8 just a few mins ago: “For a fact checker, you’re kind of sitting there w/Biden. Occasionally you’re l… https://t.co/8oEQB3k2Hx
— Maegan Vazquez (@Maegan Vazquez)1603422685.0

ABC News' Jon Karl says covering indoor Trump rally is like 'taking your family with you to Fallujah'



ABC News White House correspondent Jon Karl says the risks associated with covering an indoor rally for President Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic is like "taking your family with you to Fallujah."

What are the details?

The National Journal interviewed Karl for a piece this week about how several reporters refused to enter the president's indoor rally in Las Vegas over the weekend, citing the dangers of the event.

"Reporters willing to run toward danger in war zones, riots, and terrorist attacks drew the line on spending hours tightly packed in an indoor space with more than 5,000 cheering supporters, few of whom were wearing masks," the Journal reported.

Karl, who was president of the White House Correspondents' Association at the time of President Trump's June indoor rally in Tulsa, recalled that some news outlets kept their reporters outdoors during that event but that the Las Vegas rally was "the first time that everybody stayed out except for the pool."

The Journal reported that "Karl, who has worked in war zones, said the contagious nature of the pandemic makes it different from shooting wars."

Karl told the outlet, "This is not like embedding with the Marines in Fallujah. It is like you are taking your family with you to Fallujah."

Mediaite noted that "Trump faced bipartisan criticism due to his decision to hold an indoor rally in Nevada — consequently breaking the state's coronavirus laws, which only allow a maximum of 50 people at an indoor gathering."

But Karl comparing an indoor rally to Fallujah, Iraq — where numerous Americans and coalition troops were killed during the Iraq War — did not go over well on social media.

"I know Marines who fought in Fallujah. Covering a political event is no way comparable," one person tweeted in reaction to Karl's remarks. "@jonkarl should resign in disgrace or @ABC should fire him unless there is an immediate on air apology that is tweeted far and wide by Mr. Karl's coward a**."

Another individual wrote, "Fallujah, really?? I guarantee that the riots in the streets that many in the media turned a blind eye to for months were/are far more dangerous than the Trump 'peaceful protests.'"

Someone else addressed the journalist directly, writing, "@jonkarl Did you really just compare a trump rally to the worst battle our countries seen since hue city? I was in the battle of fallujah. Perhaps you were too far to see all my brother marines losing their lives. Think with your brain & not your agenda dude."