Senators: Officials blocking access to mishandled documents

WASHINGTON Members of the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday that they should have access to classified documents that were discovered in the homes of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, arguing that Bidens administration is stonewalling them over the matter.

Senators reacted with swift, bipartisan anger after a classified meeting with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, insisting they need to see for themselves what documents the three men were holding.

It is our responsibility to make sure that we, in the role of the intelligence oversight, know if theres been any intelligence compromised, said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat. Warner and the panels vice chairman, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, held a joint news conference after they walked out of the meeting.

Members of Congress have sought access to the materials, or at least a risk assessment detailing what was within them, since the discovery of documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last summer. But they say the administration has objected, arguing they cant provide that access as two special counsels at the Justice Department are investigating Trump and Bidens mishandlings of the documents.