CNN host Don Lemon fact-checked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after the lawmaker claimed President Joe Biden is being transparent about the classified documents found in his residence.
At the start of the interview, Schumer praised Biden for correctly handling the situation, suggesting a difference when compared to former President Donald Trump’s handling of the same issue.
Lemon then asked if Schumer thought Biden was transparent about retaining classified documents on his property.
“I think the Biden folks, as I said, cooperated with the prosecutorial authorities from day one, and Donald Trump didn’t,” Schumer responded in contrast to his earlier claim about consistency in perspective.
‘FOR GOD’S SAKE’: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and CNN’s Don Lemon clash over President Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified government documents#NextRevFNC @SteveHiltonx https://t.co/BJdadLljiU
— The Next Revolution (@NextRevFNC) January 13, 2023
Lemon disagreed with Schumer’s assertion and argued that Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed a special counsel to investigate the situation with Biden because the justice department felt the president’s team lacked transparency.
“This is our reporting,” Lemon said. “According to one justice official, said that the White House public statements earlier this week offered an incomplete narrative about the classified documents from Biden’s time as vice president reinforced the need for a special counsel.”
Lemon added that the misleading statements from Biden’s team gave the impression that they had “something to hide.”
Lemon noted the similarity in the situation between Biden and Trump. When Schumer aired this observation, he highlighted Schumer’s different disposition in Trump’s era.
“Senator, I have to say this. You seem much more measured about this than with the Trump documents because you called for transparency with the Trump documents. You wanted lawmakers to have access to the documents seized from the former president, his residence in Florida,” the anchor said.
The exchange came after Biden faced fresh scrutiny over his handling of government secrets after a second batch of classified materials was discovered at a location linked to him. Biden, however, responded by saying he was surprised to learn of their existence.
