Former US Vice President not prosecuted for mishandling classified documents

The decision comes just before Pence is expected to announce his presidential bid next week, CNN reported. The former vice president’s absence from charges of mishandling classified documents will give him an advantage over former President Donald Trump, who is facing serious investigations by the Justice Department and other agencies.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division have conducted an investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information. Based on the results of that investigation, no criminal charges will be filed,” the Justice Department wrote to Pence’s attorney.

Former US Vice President Mike Pence.

In January, Mr Pence’s lawyers found about a dozen documents marked as classified at his Indiana home after the former vice president asked his lawyers to review the files. The case comes after classified documents were found at US President Joe Biden’s Delaware home, as well as former President Trump’s home before that.

Mr. Pence turned over the classified files to the FBI, and the FBI and the Justice Department’s National Security Division conducted a review of how the documents ended up at his home. The former vice president said he did not know the documents were there but acknowledged “a mistake” and took responsibility for it.

The US Justice Department is still investigating the handling of classified records on Mr Trump and Mr Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special prosecutor in each investigation, citing the fact that the person under investigation is a presidential candidate.

While Pence's attorney contacted the National Archives and quickly returned the documents to the FBI, Trump refused to hand over the classified documents in his possession, eventually a court issued a warrant last year and the FBI was authorized to search Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

Special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents has led to interviews with dozens of Trump aides and staffers and expanded operations in recent months, signaling a legal decision could be near. The FBI seized more than 100 classified documents during a raid on Mar-a-Lago, and Trump’s lawyers said the former president had turned over classified documents in his possession after serving a subpoena.

Source: VTC (Source: CNN)

Source link