# Classified Documents Found in Biden Private Office in November 2022 (January 9, 2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945 "2023-01-09T23:09:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/221 "2023-01-23T18:10:20Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > They’d probably get a (quiet) thank you from Joe Biden. But they’d get a very loud ‘fuck you’ from the entire republican community. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/222 "2023-01-23T18:15:15Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve said this before, but unless reports come out about numerous other high-level officials mishandling classified documents, this does look bad for Joe. No matter what it looks bad, and it should. This isn’t something you ever want happening. Even if ultimately it turns out that Biden wasn’t directly responsible (because someone else left them there), they were at his property. It’s going to look bad to people no matter what. But there’s a difference between “looks bad” and “you should go to prison for this”. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/223 "2023-01-23T18:31:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > But there’s a difference between “looks bad” and “you should go to prison for this”. Certainly. But IMO it looks “less bad” if it appears info is overly classified and often mishandled. You NEVER want to be in a small category of 2 including yourself and Trump. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/224 "2023-01-23T18:52:55Z")
Is there some reason why you’re equating the two? The two situations/offenses/whatever do not seem equivalent at all to me. I mean, I’ve gotten speeding tickets, and Jeffrey Dahmer killed and ate people, but just because we both violated the law doesn’t mean Dahmer and I are in a category of two. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/225 "2023-01-23T18:54:17Z")
… How far over the limit? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/226 "2023-01-23T18:56:15Z")
Haha! Probably not equal-to-cannibal over the limit. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/227 "2023-01-23T19:04:01Z")
Thats Ludicrous! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/228 "2023-01-23T19:11:07Z")
Mel Brooks? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/229 "2023-01-23T19:40:20Z")
As long as you haven’t gone to plaid. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/230 "2023-01-23T20:44:03Z")
Seriously. AFAICT, no one was pushing for investigations at the time it was discovered that Trump had the documents and it wasn’t even considered a particularly big deal when that was first reported. It only escalated when he refused to return the documents for over a year, and when he read some of them outloud to Bob Woodward. It’s ridiculous, I hate watching the Democrats play into the conservative bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/231 "2023-01-23T20:54:27Z")
Someone needs to make a graphic that compares to the two timelines. One for Trump, one for Biden. They both start the day it was noticed their respective documents were missing. We keep talking about what Trump did vs Biden but it would be fun to see it laid out like that. Biden found some documents and turned them [the ones he’d found up to that point] over to NARA the next day. Trump had more than a year head start and he’s still arguing about them and, I assume, still has some. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/232 "2023-01-23T21:11:38Z")
I understand sticking up for your guy and all that. I believe that Biden’s transgression was known before the midterms, and they found more over, what, last weekend? Sure he’s cooperating and Trump ain’t, but the problem is at the fundamental level. That classified information could be treated so carelessly. It just ain’t right, and Biden’s my guy. I don’t like this about my guy. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/233 "2023-01-23T21:21:56Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Sure he’s cooperating and Trump ain’t, but the problem is at the fundamental level. People make mistakes and careless ones. I would be unhappy if he accidentally ran over a dog, but more unhappy if he then led police on a high speed chase while mowing down widows and orphans. They found some classified materials. Bad. They immediately stopped looking so someone with clearance could look and turned everything over as soon as they could. Then, they checked other places where he had files and found more materials. Bad. Then they followed the same procedure. Good! Trump **knew** he had classified materials. Worse. Then, refused to turn them over. Worse still. Then, sued to keep them. Still worse. Then, lied about having more materials. Even still worse. The FBI had to get a freakin’ warrant to go get the materials. These situations are not at all equivalent, and you’re falling for right-wing propaganda by equating the two with things like “at the fundamental level”. At the fundamental level, classified materials are sometimes mishandled. When that happens with no ill intent, but is rectified, that’s usually the end of it, other than maybe some disciplinary action. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/234 "2023-01-23T21:25:50Z")
I am well aware that Trump’s situation is worse. And I am still disappointed in Joe Biden. And I am not falling for any right wing any fucking thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/235 "2023-01-23T22:55:07Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Is there some reason why you’re equating the two? The two situations/offenses/whatever do not seem equivalent at all to me. The initial actions - the mishandling of classified info such that it ends up in an unsecured location - seem VERY similar to me. We could discuss whether the number of documents Trump and/or his people mishandled is significantly greater that the number of docs Biden and/or his people mishandled, but they both mishandled multiple docs. Now their reactions after the mishandling was discovered is VERY different. But until other people step forward and say, “Oops - look what I found!,” we’ve got a total of 2 people who mishandled classified material. > [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > …it wasn’t even considered a particularly big deal when that was first reported. That’s the kind of thing I would like to see - the Archives saying, “This isn’t a particularly big deal. It happens more often than you might expect, but everyone except Trump just returns the material.” ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/236 "2023-01-23T23:04:58Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But until other people step forward and say, “Oops - look what I found!,” we’ve got a total of 2 people who mishandled classified material. OK, here you go: > **[Mishandling of classified documents happens more than you might think](https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1149924332/mishandling-of-classified-documents-happens-more-than-you-might-think)** > > The U.S. government creates millions of classified records each year. How does it keep track of them all? > There’s this level of human frailty here that just plays into this situation. And I’ve known several people who have retired, and after they retire, they’re going through their box, and it’s like, whoa, how did that get in here? And they - you know, they call back to the building. Some security officer comes out, picks it up. Everybody’s fine with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/237 "2023-01-23T23:19:23Z")
That’s cool - thanks. I am surprised I had not heard that trumpeted by the Dems. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/238 "2023-01-23T23:29:31Z")
I think that most Democrats realize there’s no point in trying to counter Republican propaganda like this. It’s not going to get through to the people it should. What’s disheartening is when Democrats get so much of this propaganda that they fall for it, too. It was really easy for me to find this article – I searched for “how often is classified material mishandled” and it came right up. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/239 "2023-01-23T23:42:30Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Someone needs to make a graphic that compares to the two timelines. I found something that’s kind of close. [![](https://s2982.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Goofus-and-Gallant.png) ](https://s2982.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Goofus-and-Gallant.png) Check out the ketchup stain. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945/240 "2023-01-24T00:44:58Z")
Oops. I spilled ketchup. Sure, that’s equivalent. Anyway, as I’ve said, I understand the desire to protect yer guy. I also understand accountability. Time may tell, and government will never share the details of any of the classified information. But it’s not just an ‘oops I spilled ketchup’ mistake. But please remind me, someone, about how the right wing has gotten their claws into me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-in-biden-private-office-in-november-2022-january-9-2023/977945.md?page=13)