WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has been interviewed as part of an impartial investigation into his handling of classified documents, the White House mentioned past due Monday.
Spokesperson Ian Sams mentioned in a observation that the interview was once voluntary and performed on the White House on Sunday and Monday. The interview concluded Monday, Sams mentioned.
The investigation is being led by means of special counsel Robert Hur, who was once appointed by means of Attorney General Merrick Garland to supervise the politically delicate topic to keep away from conflicts of hobby.
Sams reiterated that Biden and the White House are cooperating. He referred inquiries to the Justice Department.
“As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly, being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and preserving the integrity of the investigation,” Sams mentioned. “We would refer other questions to the Justice Department at this time.”
It is hardly unprecedented for sitting presidents to be interviewed in criminal investigations.
President George W. Bush sat for a 70-minute interview as part of an investigation into the leak of the identify of a CIA operative. President Bill Clinton in 1998 underwent more than four hours of questioning from independent counsel Kenneth Starr before a federal grand jury.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s staff negotiated with legal professionals for then-President Donald Trump for an interview however Trump by no means sat for one. His legal professionals as a substitute submitted solutions to written questions.