Biden’s classified records were discovered at key dates

WASHINGTON (AP) — Key dates related to the discovery of classified documents tied to President Joe Biden, Based on statements by the White House and Attorney General Merrick Grland

— Jan. 20, 2017: Biden’s two terms as vice president to President Barack Obama end.

— Mid-2017-2019: Biden periodically uses an office at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank in Washington.

— Jan. 20, 2021: Biden is sworn in as president.

— Nov. 2, 2022: Biden’s personal attorneys come across Obama-Biden administration documents in a locked closet while packing files as they prepare to close out Biden’s office in the Penn Biden Center. They notify the National Archives.

— Nov. 3, 2022: The National Archives takes possession of the documents.

— Nov. 4, 2022: The National Archives informs the Justice Department about the documents.

— Nov. 8, 2022: Midterm elections.

— November-December 2022: Biden’s lawyers search the president’s homes in Wilmington, Delaware, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to see if there are other documents from his vice presidency.

— Nov. 9, 2022: The FBI begins an assessment of whether classified information has been mishandled.

— Nov. 14, 2022: Garland assigns U.S. attorney John Lausch to look into whether a special counsel should be appointed to investigate the matter.

— Dec. 20, 2022: Biden’s personal counsel informs Lausch that a second batch of classified documents has been discovered in the garage at Biden’s Wilmington home. The FBI arrives at Biden’s Wilmington home to secure the documents.

— Jan. 5, 2023: Lausch advises Garland he believes that appointing a special counsel is warranted.

— Jan. 9, 2023: CBS News, followed by other news organizations, reveals the discovery of the documents at the Penn Biden Center. The White House acknowledges that “a small number” of Obama-Biden administration records, including some with classified markings, were found at the center. The document found in Wilmington is not mentioned.

— Jan. 10: 2023: Biden for the first time addresses the document issue. During a press conference in Mexico City, he says he was “surprised to learn that there were any documents” in the Penn Biden Center and doesn’t know what’s in them. He did not mention the Wilmington documents.

— Jan. 11, 2023: Biden’s lawyers complete their search of Biden’s residences, find one additional classified document in the president’s personal library in Wilmington. NBC News and other news agencies reveal that a second set of documents was found in a different location than the Penn Wilson Center.

— Jan. 12: 2023: Biden’s lawyer informs Lausch that an additional classified document has been found. Richard Sauber (special counsel to the president) reveals that documents were found in Biden’s Wilmington garage. One document was also found in an adjacent area. Garland announces that Robert Hur, an ex-U.S. attorney under the Trump administration, has been appointed special counsel.