The United States National Archives (NARA) is currently considering sending letters to all living former presidents and vice presidents to ask them to sort through their records to verify that they do not have classified records in their possession. 

According to the Presidential Records Act of 1978, all former Presidents and Vice Presidents are required to turn over any classified materials at the end of their term. These documents must be turned in to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. once a presidential administration is about to change. If a president or vice president willingly holds onto classified documents or records, this federal crime can result in a prison sentence of up to five years. 

On Nov. 2, 2022, the FBI found six items containing classified documents in President Joseph R. Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware. According to CNBC, the search was consensual and lasted for almost 13 hours. Documents ranging from Biden’s term as one of Delaware’s senators from 1973 to 2009 to documents from serving as former President Barack Obama’s Vice President from 2009 to 2017 were discovered in his home. Another set of classified records was discovered in Biden’s garage on Dec. 20. On Jan. 11, another search was carried out and five more pages of classified records were found in a room close to Biden’s garage, and a single page of another classified record was found in there the day before. 

A similar situation occurred during the night of Jan. 19, 2023, when a small number of classified documents was found in former Vice President Michael R. Pence’s Indiana home. 

According to The Washington Post, Greg Jacobs, who is one of the designated representatives for Pence’s vice presidential records, proclaimed that he was given permission by Pence to search his home. At the time, Pence was not at his home and was in attendance at The National March for Life, an anti-abortion rally held annually in Washington, D.C. In a report from Jacobs to the National Archives, it states that four boxes found in Pence’s home contained copies of Administration papers. Another two boxes contained classified markings, and four final boxes were found with copies of Vice Presidential papers. 

Government teacher Mr. Christopher Gallagher shares how the finding of classified documents impacts local citizens. 

“Indirectly, these revelations could impact the way that Americans view government officials and the government as a whole.  Generally speaking, Americans have a low level of trust in their government,” said Gallagher. “This trend started becoming particularly pronounced in the 1970s in response to Watergate and the Vietnam Conflict.  I think it is fair to say that this incident only adds fuel to the fire of discontent and wariness that many Americans already have.  It is important to note that neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party are exempt from this reality.” 

President Biden has stated that his possession of classified documents were unintentional and that the White House will be “cooperating fully and completely” with the Justice Department. Former Vice President Pence has stated that he takes “full responsibility” and will cooperate with any investigations with the Department of Justice.