President Joe Biden berated reporters who brought his unwanted documents all the way to Santa Cruz, California, where he came to see storm-ravaged communities after devastating “atmospheric rivers” ravaged parts of the state.
The President bluntly stated that he has “no regrets” — even as a Special Counsel investigation has begun to look at how secret government documents from his time as Vice President were hidden in his DC office with the Penn Biden Center and in his garage in Wilmington, Delaware , have landed.
Not only has the matter turned the beginning of the year and the second half of his tenure upside down, it has also impacted the Biden team’s ability to focus on examining former President Trump’s documents.
“You know, I’ll answer the question, but here’s the deal,” Biden told reporters after being asked if he’d pop a question on the subject – amid daily revelations about how secret documents from his days as Vice President were discovered.
President Biden tore the press when asked if he regrets not disclosing secret documents from his vice presidential days that were discovered in his former DC office ahead of the November election
President Joe Biden toured storm damage in California along with Gov. Gavin Newsom (L) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and then stormed the press for asking for his documents
He was asked if he regretted not disclosing the secret documents before the November elections. A Biden attorney notified the National Archives of the discovery days before Election Day.
“What honestly bugs me is that we have a serious issue here that we’re talking about — we’re talking about what’s going on, and the American people don’t quite understand why you’re not asking me questions about it,” he ranted . “But what is your question?”
Then he answered. “You see, when we found a handful of documents that had been misplaced, we immediately turned them over to the archives and the Justice Department. We fully cooperate and look forward to resolving this quickly. I think you’ll find there’s nothing there.”
“I have no regrets that I followed what the lawyers told me what they want from me, it’s exactly what we’re doing. There isn’t one,’ he concluded.
“We won’t give up until we find Kyle,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking of a missing 5-year-old boy who was swept away by the floods
The pair were touring at a pier in Capitola due to storms
“If anyone doubts the climate is changing, they must have been asleep for the past few years,” Biden said
Newsom chose not to run for president in 2024
The Riviera Holiday Mobile Estates/Senior Community was inundated after another storm surge in Merced, California. Newsom thanked Biden for speedy disaster relief. Biden said state will ‘better rebuild’
The blast came after Biden toured the collapsed Capitola Pier near Seacliff State Park in Santa Cruz and met with business owners whose businesses were destroyed by a series of violent storms.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who greeted Biden with a smile upon his arrival, described the 21 known deaths the state had experienced.
“We had nine atmospheric flows, a build-up of stress — this conveyor belt going back 22 days, trillions of gallons of water. We estimate that the state of California has conducted over 1400 heroic rescues, those lives that have been saved have not made headlines,” Newsom said.
He also spoke about the search for a missing five-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters in San Luis Obispo County, prompting a National Guard search.
“We won’t give up until we find Kyle,” he said.
Biden also referenced the missing boy.
“The fact is Jill and we are praying for him,” Biden said.
The two leaders shared the camaraderie. Newsom declined a presidential bid in 2024, and Biden is expected to announce his own candidacy soon.
The tour comes amid the deepening documents scandal
The White House has declined to release visitor logs from Biden’s lakefront home in Wilmington, Delaware (pictured), where he spends most weekends — and has conducted most of the 2020 campaign due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
At least a few documents were found in Biden’s garage at his home in Wilmington, Delaware
Biden was irritated with reporters asking about the document debacle and his handling of classified documents.
“One of the things I’ve long admired about this President, and I think the American people admire, is that there are few people with the empathy, caring and compassion that he has. And you see that in times like these,” Newsom said.
“You and I need to stop doing these helicopter rides,” Biden joked at one point, after also flashing a warm smile to Newsom upon his arrival.
“If anyone doubts the climate is changing, they must have been asleep for the last few years,” Biden said, citing California’s years of drought, fire and severe storms.
Earlier, Biden had seen a stack of damaged boards from Capitola Pier.
He met with rescue workers and members of the military and exchanged with some challenge coins. He visited Zelda’s on the Beach, a restaurant with piles of sandbags at the beach exit and building materials in an otherwise bare interior.
He also took a sightseeing flight over the widespread damage.
The state was hit with nearly 12 inches of rain and snow between December 26 and January 17, with snow piles in the Sierras.
A series of “atmospheric flows” – long ribbons of water vapor – arrived one after the other. Light rain and dry conditions are expected in the coming days.