Did Biden Self-Report the Documents? Jean-Pierre: 'Who Did You Hear That From?' 'John Kirby' (January 27, 2023)

The White House had said President Joe Biden “self-reported” the classified documents found at his old office and home. A reporter asked how that squared with what his lawyers actually did. “And why do White House officials insist that the President self-reported the classified materials if his lawyers initially called the White House and not the Justice Department?” [1]

“I would refer you to the White House Counsel,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said [1].

“But we heard from this podium the other day that President Biden self-reported the materials. That’s not what — exactly what happened, is it?” the reporter asked. “Who did you hear that from?” Jean-Pierre asked. “John Kirby,” the reporter said [1].

“Well, I would refer you to the White House Counsel,” Jean-Pierre said. “Go ahead.” [1]

The video above shows the exchange at the Jan. 27, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Have Any More Classified Documents Been Located?”

The same reporter had started with a simpler question. “On the documents, have any more classified documents been located in any places associated with President Biden?” “I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

According to the reporter, John Kirby had said it from the podium days earlier, even though Biden’s lawyers “initially called the White House and not the Justice Department.” Jean-Pierre neither confirmed nor disputed that account [1].

”Asking Both Sides to De-Escalate”

News broke during the briefing. “And, just really briefly, we just heard that there — there are at least seven people who have been killed in an attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem. I don’t know if you’ve heard that or not. Do you have any comment?” a reporter asked [1].

“No, I have not heard of that,” Jean-Pierre said. “But — but, clearly, we have been asking both sides to de-escalate, and we will continue to do that.” [1]

That evening the White House issued a statement: “We strongly condemn the heinous terror attack that took place this evening at a synagogue in Jerusalem.” It noted that the attack “tragically occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day” [4]. Biden called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “made clear that this was an attack against the civilized world,” the White House said [5].

”It’s Me. It’s Not You.”

Later, another reporter tried to ask about the Supreme Court’s student debt cases. “I wanted to ask about the student debt relief cases that the Supreme Court is going to consider next month.” [1]

“Say that one more time? I’m so sor- —” Jean-Pierre said. “I’m sorry, I still didn’t — didn’t hear you. The first part?” “Student debt,” the reporter said. “Oh, student — (laughs) —” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s me. It’s not you.” [1]

Asked whether Biden “went beyond his authority,” Jean-Pierre said: “And, look, we’re confident in our legal authority to carry — carry out this program as it re- — as it relates specifically to the student debt.” [1]

She described what the plan would do. “If you think about loan program, it’ll give Americans who can buy a car, can start a family, can buy a home,” she said. “And if you think about his plan, it is working. It is indeed working.” [1]

“Not Using It as a Political Football”

On the border, a reporter asked for “a reaction on the over 70 Democrats urging the President to reevaluate his asylum restrictions.” Jean-Pierre said Biden’s measures were “actually working” and that “this month, we’re on track to see the lowest levels of monthly border encounters since February 2021” [1].

“We’re not using it as a political stunt. We’re not using it as a political football,” she said, accusing “some states” of trying “to block or- — our success” [1].

”Almost 11 [Million] Jobs”

A reporter asked about the debt limit. “People on the Hill are talking about a debt limit extension until September. Would the White House support such an extension?” [1]

“Look, we’ve been very clear that the debt limit should be dealt with without conditions,” Jean-Pierre said. Then she reached for the economy: “So we’re seeing a growing economy. We’re seeing record unemployment, 50-year low. We’re seeing almost 11 [million] jobs created under this President.” The bracketed word is the official transcript’s fix [1].

“What we should be doing and what Congress should be working with us on is how do we continue to build on that success, not do political stunts,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

70+: Democrats who urged Biden to reconsider his asylum limits, per the reporter [1].
89%: the drop Jean-Pierre claimed in unlawful crossings from four countries “in less than three weeks” [1].
$20,000: the debt relief Jean-Pierre cited for those “who need it the most” [1].
6: justices who later voted to strike down the student debt plan [3].
8: victims killed in the synagogue attack, per the White House statement that evening [4].

What Happened Next

The FBI kept searching. Five days later, on Feb. 1, 2023, “FBI agents searched President Biden’s vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Wednesday for three-and-a-half hours but did not find additional classified documents, the president’s attorney Bob Bauer said,” Fox News reported [2].

The Court ruled. On June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the student debt plan in Biden v. Nebraska. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the six-justice majority that the HEROES Act did not give the Education Secretary power to cancel $430 billion in loan principal: “It does not.” [3]

For the documents questions three days earlier, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 24, 2023. For other questions at this briefing, see the page on Camp David and Wilmington, and for the Court’s ruling, the page on the Supreme Court decision.