On ABC’s This Week, co-moderator Jonathan Karl opened the program on Sunday by scolding Biden for his claims of transparency when it comes to his team’s disclosure of his mishandling of classified government documents. Despite learning on November 2, 2022 that he left classified documents in three different locations, Biden and his handlers waited until the week of January 9, 2023 to inform the public.
“For the fourth time the White House is revealing new details,” Karl said at the top of the broadcast. “At first it was documents found in a locked closet at an office Biden used after he was Vice President,” he added.
“Then we learned of documents in the garage at his home in Wilmington. Then a document in another location near the garage. And now, just yesterday the White House said five more documents had been found at President Biden’s home,” Karl noted.
Karl then pointed out that Biden’s claims of transparency are just talk:
The White House says it is committed to transparency but the first batch of documents was discovered on November 2. Just days before the midterm elections, the public didn’t learn of it until this week. And only after reporters started asking questions.
As if that wasn’t bad enough for the Biden administration, Karl highlighted his hypocrisy and cavalierness when discussing closely protecting national security documents.
“When it was Trump, Biden called it totally irresponsible,” Karl pointed out before airing a clip from Biden’s interview with aspiring North Korean propagandist Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes back in September:
How that could possibly happen, how anyone could be that irresponsible. And I thought, what data was in there that may compromise sources and methods? By that I mean names of people who helped, et cetera. And it just totally irresponsible.
When Karl came back live, he recalled a cringeworthy moment from the past week when Biden suggested the documents he left in his garage were safe because it’s the same garage he keeps his Corvette in.
“After it was revealed classified documents were found in the President’s garage, Biden downplayed the significance, comparing the security of government secrets with the security of his sports car,” Karl noted.
To read the relevant transcript click “expand”:
ABC’s This Week
1/15/2023
9:01:40 a.m. EasternJON KARL: As we come on the air this morning, there are new details emerging about those classified documents found at President Biden’s private office and at his residence. For the fourth time the White House is revealing new details. At first it was documents found in a locked closet at an office Biden used after he was Vice President. Then we learned of documents in the garage at his home in Wilmington. Then a document in another location near the garage. And now, just yesterday the White House said five more documents had been found at President Biden’s home.
The White House says it is committed to transparency but the first batch of documents was discovered on November 2. Just days before the midterm elections, the public didn’t learn of it until this week. And only after reporters started asking questions.
[…]
9:04:12 a.m. Eastern
KARL: When it was Trump, Biden called it totally irresponsible.
[cuts to video clip]
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (ON 60 MINUTES SEPT 18, 2022): How that could possibly happen, how anyone could be that irresponsible. And I thought, what data was in there that may compromise sources and methods? By that I mean names of people who helped, et cetera. And it just totally irresponsible.
[cuts back to live]
KARL: After it was revealed classified documents were found in the President’s garage Biden downplayed the significance comparing the security of government secrets with the security of his sports car.
[cuts to video clip]
BIDEN: By the way, my Corvette is in a locked garage, okay, so it’s not like it’s sitting out in the street.
PETER DOOCY: So the material was in a locked garage?
BIDEN: Yes, as well as my Corvette.