Appointment of special counsel to probe US President Biden’s classified documents shows hypocrisy of ruling Democrats: Speaker McCarthy

Washington, Jan 15 (PTI) Newly-appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy on Sunday slammed the appointment of a special counsel to probe the discovery of classified documents at US President Joe Biden’s residence, asserting that the move showcased the “hypocrisy” of the ruling Democrats.

President Biden is facing a Department of Justice investigation after his lawyers found classified documents at his Delaware residence and an office here in Washington DC.

On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed former Justice Department official to lead the probe.

McCarthy, in his first television interview, since his appointment as the House Speaker, said the move showcased the hypocrisy of the Democrats and it was the reason why the American public “does not trust their government.”

“The Congress has an independent Constitutional obligation to oversee all aspects of the Justice Department. And that includes special counsels as well. And so, we will have a role in overseeing what’s transpiring here,” McCarthy told Fox News in an interview.

Republican McCarthy, 57, was elected as the new speaker of the US House of Representatives in a dramatic post-midnight ballot on January 7, after days of intense negotiations and a series of humiliating defeats to finally capture the gavel on a historic 15th attempt.

He needed a simple majority to be elected as the speaker, who presides over the business and is second in line to the presidency.

McCarthy replaced 82-year-old Nancy Pelosi of the Democratic Party, which lost the majority in the House after the November 8 midterm elections.

“What’s real concerning to me is how justice is applied, and is it applied equally? Why do you raid President Trump? His wasn’t just locked. It was padlocked. They knew it was there. They could have come and taken it any time they wanted. They were communicating with one another,” he explained.

The White House is facing increasing criticism for its lack of transparency with the public over the disclosure of these documents.

The initial cache of documents 10 classified files from Biden’s time as vice president found at his former private office at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement was found on November 2 but not revealed to the public until Monday.

Biden used the office from 2017 to 2019 when he was an honorary professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Now we’re finding time and again a locked garage door that opens and closes by a push of the button. How many years has this vice president, who has been in office for more than 40 years, had these documents? Who’s been in and out of there?” McCarthy elaborated.

Five additional pages of classified material have been found at Biden’s family home in Delaware, the White House said on Saturday, bringing the total number of secret documents uncovered to about two dozen files.

“So, they apply a special counsel. But how many agents do they apply to that and apply to President Trump as well? This is just hypocrisy. And I’m tired of this Justice Department that we found that went after parents and others, that they utilise it to go after people because they have different political beliefs. That is what’s wrong with this government,” he added.