Biden Called Trump's Documents Irresponsible. Jean-Pierre: 'I Just Commented' - Reporter: 'You Gave a Non-Answer Answer' (January 18, 2023)

Back in September, President Joe Biden had a word for Donald Trump’s classified documents. A reporter reminded White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre of it. “I want to reference an interview that President Biden did in mid-September with ‘60 Minutes.’ And in that interview, he chided former President Trump for having in his possession classified documents. He called it ‘irresponsible,’” the reporter said [1].

“First of all, do you think it was proper for President Biden to comment on an ongoing DOJ investigation?” the reporter asked [1]. Fox News identified the reporter as Jon Decker of Gray Television [2].

“So, I’m going to say this, and going to keep it really short today: As it relates to this particular issue, as it relates to an ongoing legal matter, I’m going to refer you to the Department of Jus- — Department of Justice,” Jean-Pierre said. “I’m going to leave it there. Not going to go into it further.” [1]

The video above shows the Jan. 18, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript [1].

”You Gave a Non-Answer Answer”

Decker tried again. “I’m simply asking you to comment —” Decker said. “I just commented,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’re moving on.” [1]

“I already answered your question,” she said. “You really didn’t,” a reporter said. “Well, I — I did,” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

“No, you didn’t. You gave a non-answer answer,” the reporter said. “Well, it’s your — it’s your opinion,” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s your opinion. It’s your opinion. That is your opinion.” [1]

“It’s a fact,” the reporter answered [1].

”An Information Blackout”

Later, another reporter described the runaround. “Since so many of our questions have been referred to the DOJ and to the White House Counsel’s Office, I’m sure you can understand that we’re in sort of an information blackout where DOJ refers us to the Special Counsel. They’re not holding any briefings. White House Counsel refers us to DOJ,” the reporter said [1].

“So if you are not able to talk about this from the podium, would you invite a DOJ official to take our questions here — to the briefing room?” [1]

“No, you would have to go to the Department of Justice,” Jean-Pierre said. “So, certainly, we would not be bringing them here.” [1]

“Could you invite anybody else?” the reporter asked. “The White House Counsel or the President’s personal lawyers? Anyone?” [1]

“It’s Not Your Decision to Make”

One reporter asked about “questions that you should be able to answer here that shouldn’t have to go to any other agency or entity”: “Can you tell us if there’s any sort of assessment that has been planned or launched to determine if national security has been jeopardized at all?” [1]

“Again, that’s for the Department of Justice,” Jean-Pierre said. “Why is it a DOJ question?” the reporter asked [1].

“And it’s — and let’s be clear, it’s not your decision to make on what I can and can’t answer from here,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Another reporter tried a narrower question. “Just to be clear, my question is about procedures here at the White House and not about anything specific related to the DOJ investigation,” the reporter said. Jean-Pierre sent that one to the White House Counsel’s Office, too. “I’m just not going to address something that is even related to an ongoing legal process,” she said [1].

“But why not?” the reporter asked [1].

Another asked: “So, just to be clear: From this point on, are you not going to be taking questions about the classified documents?” Jean-Pierre answered: “I have been very clear over and over again we are going to be prudent here.” [1]

“It’s a Yes or No”

A reporter Jean-Pierre called Peter first pressed on what the White House knew and when. “Because we knew on November 2nd that the first discovery was made. We knew the second discovery was made on December 20th. So there’s a risk of incompletion. But will you concede that it’s the White House that has been incomplete in its provision of information when it did choose to speak out publicly on January 9th?” [1]

“So, my colleague actually dealt with this question on the call yesterday — from the White House Counsel’s Office,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The reporter then asked whether the White House would put someone on camera to answer questions, the way John Kirby handled national security. “Is the White House in talks right now to find someone either outside the White House or internally who can speak on behalf of the White House representing the Special Counsel Office within the White House from this podium?” [1]

“I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office,” Jean-Pierre said. “Well, but you’re the communications —” the reporter said. “You run the communications —” [1]

The reporter noted that the counsel’s 45-minute call was “on background though, Karine, not on the record until the call ends. That means the American people can’t see it in public.” [1]

“Peter, the fact that he spoke to all of you reporters who report on this, and then you all reported on it back to the American people, I believe that is transparency,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“That’s — it’s a yes or no. You can just say ‘no,’” the reporter said. “I actually just answered that question,” Jean-Pierre answered. “So that means ‘no,’” the reporter said [1].

”Very Insulting to Reporters”

Frustration was mounting in the press corps, Fox News reported. “It’s very insulting to reporters especially when she repeatedly says she has answered a question when she very clearly has not,” a White House reporter told Fox News Digital [2].

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich said reporters were being sent to a “black hole,” Fox reported. “It is frustrating to the press corps here at the White House… we formally asked for the press secretary to bring to the briefing room the attorneys for the president, so that we can ask people these questions,” Heinrich told Neil Cavuto [2].

By the Numbers

45 minutes: the White House Counsel’s call with reporters, per Jean-Pierre [1].
200+: people she said were on that call [1].
37: felony counts Trump faced in his own documents case, per Fox [3].
2: places Fox listed where Biden’s documents were found, the Penn Biden Center and his Wilmington home [2].

What Happened Next

Trump’s case was tossed. On July 15, 2024, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against Trump. “The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution,” she wrote, according to Fox News [3].

Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier he was “thrilled that a judge had the courage and wisdom to do this.” [3]

Biden was not charged. In February 2024, Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded that “no criminal charges are warranted,” while finding evidence that Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen” [4].

For the briefing the day before, see HYGO News’ page on the first call to the West Wing, and for Biden’s own answer the next day, the page on his Aptos remarks.