Pence takes ‘full responsibility’ for classified documents found in his home

Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will take “full responsibility” after classified documents were discovered at his Indiana home.

In his first public comments since discovering the documents, Pence said he did not know they were at his residence, but that his ignorance was no excuse.

“Let me make one thing clear: Those classified documents should not be in my private residence,” he said at Florida International University, as he spoke about the economy and promoted his new book, “God Bless Me.”

“Mistakes were made,” he added.

The discovery, made public by Mr. Pence’s team earlier this week, marks the latest in a string of sensitive documents recovered from the homes of current and former top U.S. officials.

The release of the documents by Mr. Pence comes five months after Mr. Pence told The Associated Press that he did not take the classified documents with him when he left the vice presidency.

“No, as far as I know,” he said when asked if he kept any such information.

The comments — for a former vice president — come as no surprise given that FBI agents seized classified and top-secret information from his former boss’ Florida estate on Aug. 8 as part of an investigation into possible violations of federal law. Saying it is usually unremarkable – notable at the time.

Mr Trump claimed the documents seized by agents were “fully declassified”.

Mr. Pence said he decided to search Mr. Biden’s home “out of an abundance of caution” after his team recently disclosed documents had been found at his former office and his home in Delaware.

“I take full responsibility for the documents found in Indiana,” Pence said Friday, adding that he has directed his attorneys to cooperate with the National Archives, the Justice Department and Congress and to cooperate fully in any investigation.

The former vice president said national security depended on the proper handling of classified documents, but he wanted people to realize he acted quickly to right the wrong.

“Our actions are above politics and put the national interest first,” he said.