Vox Sentences - A special counsel for Biden

Biden aides find more classified documents; Ukraine resists Russian advances in Soledar.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

Biden’s classified documents

Nicholas Kamm /AFP via Getty Images

• Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsel Robert Hur to investigate classified documents discovered at President Joe Biden’s home and a private office. [CBS News / Melissa Quinn and Robert Legare]
• The documents, discovered in November and December 2022, are from Biden’s time as vice president. [BBC / Anthony Zurcher]
• The first batch reportedly included 10 intelligence memos and briefings on Ukraine, Iran, and the UK that were found in a locked closet at Biden’s former office on November 2. [CNN]
• White House attorneys also recovered a small number of classified items at Biden’s Delaware residence. Both discoveries were revealed this week. [Washington Post / Adela Suliman and Devlin Barrett]
• Among major differences with the classified documents found in former President Donald Trump’s possession: Biden immediately returned the materials to the relevant agencies; all documents appeared to be kept under lock and key; and Biden is cooperating with the investigation. [Vox / Andrew Prokop]

The battle for Soledar continues

• Thursday, Ukrainian forces held onto control of Soledar despite Russian advances on the eastern Ukraine mining town. [Guardian / Pjotr Sauer]
• At least 559 civilians — including 15 children — were unable to evacuate Soledar amid fierce fighting. [Reuters / Pavel Polityuk and Vladyslav Smilianets]
• Weeks of intense battles have destroyed the town as Moscow attempts to capture its first new territory in months. [BBC]
• If victorious, Russia could use Soledar to launch further attacks on the nearby city of Bakhmut. But both sides have suffered heavy losses. [CBS News]

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US inflation cooled to 6.5 percent in December compared to a year earlier amid declining energy and airline prices. [Vox / Madeleine Ngo]

• Thursday, Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals — which are used to manufacture a range of electronics — was discovered in Sweden. [Reuters]
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continues to back embattled Rep. George Santos (R-NY) despite growing calls to resign over making up his credentials. [CNN / Clare Foran and Manu Raju]
• Egypt has accused three people of attempting to excavate and steal a 10-foot, 10-ton granite statue of Ramses II from the southern Aswan region. [Washington Post / Leo Sands]

“People know I take classified documents seriously. I’m cooperating fully and completely with the Justice Department’s review.”

[President Biden on the documents investigation / NYT]

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