FBI conducts search of Mike Pence’s home: Report
Cami Mondeaux
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The FBI is reportedly conducting a search of former Vice President Mike Pence’s Indiana home on Friday as the agency continues its efforts to recover classified materials that have been taken from the White House, according to reports.
The Carmel Police Department blocked off the entrance to Pence’s driveway on Friday morning, raising questions about whether the FBI planned to conduct a search of his personal residence. Spokespeople with the police department told the Washington Examiner they were assisting with traffic control but were not involved in assisting the FBI.
It’s not entirely clear what is the reasoning behind the search on Friday, and the FBI declined to comment on the matter. Instead, the agency referred to the Department of Justice, which has not responded to a request for comment by the Washington Examiner.
Reports emerged earlier this week that the agency was planning to search Pence’s home for more classified materials, although it was not clear when that would take place.
FBI TO SEARCH MIKE PENCE’S HOME FOR CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
The search comes after a small number of classified materials were found in Pence’s home in early January. Pence officials found two boxes of possible classified materials inside the home on Jan. 16, as well as another two boxes that contained copies of vice presidential papers, according to CNN.
Lawyers for Pence said the documents were initially stored in his temporary home in Virginia before they were inadvertently boxed and transported to the vice president’s Indiana home without his knowledge. It’s not clear how long the documents have been stored there.
“Vice President Pence was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence,” wrote Pence lawyer Greg Jacob in a letter to the National Archives. “Vice President Pence understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information and stands ready and willing to cooperate fully with the National Archives and any appropriate inquiry.”
It’s not clear what information the documents contain or what their level of classification is, according to Pence officials. Although the materials had classified markings, that determination will be left to the Department of Justice, they said.
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Spokespeople for Pence have maintained that the former vice president would give the FBI full access to his home for an in-depth search, although they said they don’t believe any more materials would be found.
This story is developing and will be updated.