White House dodges key questions about secret Biden papers scandal, saying it’s “pretty transparent”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed reporters’ questions about the investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents immediately after a separate spokesperson said they were “pretty transparent” in sharing information about the investigation.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre how the White House can claim to be transparent when the first classified documents were discovered in November 2022 but not released until January.

“What does the public have to take away from the fact that you are withholding such information from the public?” the reporter asked.

“I’m just not going to comment on anything related to what’s going on right now. This is a legal process. As you just mentioned, my colleague was right outside these doors answering many of your questions. weeks, I think already a few weeks. And he will continue to do so,” said Jean-Pierre.

Justice Department raids Biden’s Delaware home amid classified documents investigation

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks at the daily press briefing at the Brady White House Briefing in Washington, D.C. January 20, 2023.
(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Jean-Pierre referred all other questions about the investigation of classified documents to the White House prosecutor’s office.

“What is the current number of classified documents found in the presidential residence in the offices of the Senate?” the reporter asked.

“I would direct you to the White House Counsel’s office,” Jean-Pierre replied.

When Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsel’s office, was asked on Wednesday how many classified documents were found at Biden properties, he didn’t give a specific number, directing a reporter to the Justice Department.

Sources say the FBI raided the Penn Biden Center in mid-November, shortly after the classified documents were discovered.

US President Joe Biden makes a statement on additional military support for Ukraine in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 25, 2023 in Washington, DC.
(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Sams also said the White House has been transparent about the investigation into the documents.

“I think we’ve been pretty transparent from the start, providing information as it happens throughout this process,” Sams said.

On January 12, White House Special Counsel Richard Sauber announced the discovery of classified documents in the garage of Biden’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware. Secret documents were also found in Biden’s private office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C. on November 2, 2022, and more classified documents were found in his Wilmington home on December 20, 2022.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

US President Joe Biden leaves the White House on January 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden is due to travel to California today to inspect damage from recent hurricanes.
(Photo by Vin McNamee/Getty Images)

Six items, consisting of classified documents, were seized from Biden’s home in Wilmington on Jan. 20, and on Wednesday, the Justice Department conducted an additional search of Biden’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Fox News’ David Spant, Jake Gibson, and Chris Panfolo contributed to this report.