@lenor I agree. There is obviously much room for improvement in keeping track of classified White House documents.
I initially thought along the same lines, that this could have been a plant. After learning of more documents in Biden's home, I no longer think that. I think it was an honest oversight on the part of whomever packed Biden's office and moved him out. I also believe that every President probably has or had some questionable documents in their possession, whether they meant to remove them or not.
I'm impressed with the integrity of Biden's lawyers who reacted correctly, immediately, and with Merrick Garland, whom I trust to perform his job correctly and to be above reproach.
@dannyboy it's also helpful that Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the Biden files,some also found in his garage in his Delaware home.
Robert Hur was a Trump appointed US Attorney for the District of Maryland.
Yes, there are major differences in Trump having them and how he responded and Biden having them and how he responded.
That being said ? The investigations have to have the appearance of fair and equitable investigations outside of prejudicial political scope .
@tgraf66 Congress has not increased NARA's budget in three decades. Expenses rose, but their budget didn't. NARA doesn't have the resources.
Someone did not do their job.
Likely a Biden staffer who was tasked with returning them and they failed to do so. Somebody dropped the ball but will likely own up to it. Might even have even happened during the early part of Covid when everyone went remote all of a sudden. They might have been put away quickly and things became remote for so long they were forgotten.
I think light will be shed in the not too distant future. Whatever the reason, this was a BIG misstep.
Hopefully in the future, the National Archives will be on top of released documents. You know, be on it like a librarian on an overdue library book, because we know how on top of it our local librarians are right? Maybe librarians should take care of everything related to National Archives.
Wait!!!! Isn't that what an archivist does? This scandal now is tainting the reputation of archivists! They are some of the most meticulous people around. You DON"T even TOUCH documents without gloves right?
Maybe librarians or archivists should be on staff for all people with Top Secret clearance for the handling documents. Or "on loan".
One might infer that the National Archive equivalent of the Dewy Decimal system is lacking. Perhaps they are using the equivalent of Southwest Airlines Software to track archives like Southwest tracks their flight crews??
At the very least, the person who checks out a National Archive document should sign away the right to their first born if a document isn't returned on time right?. OR there should be loan shark type overdue fees with interest compounded daily.
@lovendures You’re right about librarians, says this retired librarian. Those overdue notices went out like clockwork. And if there was no response to an overdue notice, you were definitely getting a call to find out why that book was not returned. A missing book sent us on a hunt that could last for hours not ever giving up until it was found. And don’t ever just throw a book away, when it could be recycled, repurposed or reused. If I wasn’t so old I’d apply for a job at NARA and get that system working the right way.
I do not know if this is of interest. I worked as a contractor for the federal government for over ten years. While I did not handle classified documents, I was still required to take an annual course on the requirements for handling and storing classified documents.
As I recall, the storage of classified documents must be under two locked devices, for example: a locked file cabinet within a locked office. If the employee leaves his/her office (even to go to the rest room), the documents must be secured under both locks. If the documents are taken to another meeting, I believe the meeting needs to be held in a SKIF (secured room).
Following is info I just found on a federal government site: https://www.archives.gov/isoo/faqs
*****************
Question: Are there any circumstances when I might be allowed to take classified documents home with me?
Answer: No. Classified material must be safeguarded in accordance with the requirements in E.O. 13526, Part 4, Safeguarding; and 32 CFR 2001, Subpart E, Safeguarding.
You must not remove classified material from official premises except to conduct official meetings or conferences, and the material must be returned to safe storage facilities immediately upon the conclusion of the meeting or conference. Residences are not considered official premises, and you must not remove classified material for reasons of personal convenience or keep it overnight in personal custody.
Question: Who should be the SAO for an agency?
Answer: SAO is a senior official at the Assistant Secretary level or its equivalent who has direct responsibility for ensuring the department or agency efficiently and appropriately complies with all applicable records management statutes, regulations, NARA policy, and the requirements of the Directive.
The SAO must be located within the organization so as to make adjustments to agency practices, personnel, and funding as may be necessary to ensure compliance and support the business needs of the department or agency. A partial list of some current SAO job titles includes:
Mike Pence had classified documents which were just found now too.
Let's change the title of this thread to be more "inclusive".
I bet every V.P. and President isevery former President and Vice President is going oh $#!t!!! They're wondering if there is a classified document in their possession. Could one be in the attic with old family photos? In the cellar with the root vegetables? Under the hay in a barn? Under the passenger seat of car sold in 2014?
I wonder what that old rascal Carter has tucked away?
DocumentGate!!!!
This is absolutely Ridiculous!
For any staff member who was supposed to make sure ANY classified documents where handled correctly and didn't do their job, there should be MAJOR consequences! This can not be acceptable. There needs to be MAJOR repercussions and an overhaul. I am not talking about a president/V.P. who intentionally kept them as that is a whole other issue of concern. I am talking ones that are staff negligence.
Unacceptable !!
https://www.axios.com/2023/01/24/mike-pence-classified-documents
@lovendures I absolutely agree on this. @PamP did say earlier in this thread that the NARA budget had been cut, but there's genuinely no excuse for this. On the other hand, for those MAGATs who were going to try to say "well Biden did it, too!" (and were already doing that), this kind of takes the wind out of their sails, so, you know...silver lining and all. 😄