First Lady Jill Biden came to her husband’s rescue in the middle of the White House’s Lunar New Year celebration to shield him from hungry reporters looking for a scoop on the classified document investigation. One reporter ambushed the President, asking if he would allow the FBI to search his Rehoboth Beach home. The unexpected question left Biden temporarily stunned before first lady Jill Biden swooped in for the rescue. Although the President was able to avoid reporters, it didn’t stop him from drawing fresh criticism from his wife, who was afraid the President would ‘ruin the evening’ by attempting to show his moves on the dance floor.
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Jill Biden shields Joe from answering questions on classified docs at White House
By Ryan King; January 27, 2023
First lady Jill Biden came to her husband’s defense Thursday when he was questioned about the classified document controversy dogging his presidency.
President Joe Biden was walking through the White House during the Lunar New Year festivity when he was asked a question about whether he would let the FBI search one of his houses. The president looked flustered, but then the first lady intervened and waved at reporters before catching up with him en route to the celebration.
Late last week, the FBI searched the president’s Wilmington, Delaware home and reportedly unearthed additional documents with classification markings. His legal team previously conducted their own sweep of both his Wilmington and Rehoboth homes but found no classified material in Rehoboth. Over two dozen sensitive documents have reportedly been recovered from his vice presidential days.
The president has insisted he has been fully cooperating with investigators. Special counsel Robert Hur is overseeing an investigation into the matter. President Joe Biden refrained from answering pressing questions on the mounting controversy during the festivity Thursday.
During the Lunar New Year Celebration, the president reflected on the spate of violence the Asian American community has faced over recent months while standing in the East Room of the White House.
“As I’ve said many times before, hate can have no safe haven or harbor in America. No person deserves to be treated with hate — in a hateful way. They all deserve to be treated with dignity and with respect,” Biden proclaimed during his remarks at the festivity.
His comments came in the shadow of a shooting rampage in Monterey Park, California, a predominantly Asian American city, over the weekend that left 11 dead. So far, there are no indications that the attack was racially motivated.
Near the conclusion of the dragon dance performance to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the first lady also teased her husband, ribbing that his dancing could ruin the evening before closing out the festivity.
“Come on up Joe! No, you’re not going to dance,” she quipped after the president hinted he might dance. “Believe me, you don’t want to ruin the evening.”