FACT CHECK: Did Karine Jean-Pierre Leave A Press Conference After Being Asked About Classified Documents?

Anna Mock | Fact Check Reporter

A video shared on Facebook purportedly shows White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre walking out of a press conference after being asked about classified documents. 

Verdict: False

This video has been digitally altered. The genuine video shows Jean-Pierre giving a response to the question instead of walking away.

Fact Check:

A third batch of classified documents were found in at President Joe Biden’s private residence Friday, according to NPR. The National Archives reportedly dismissed earlier claims that documents were mishandled weeks before the first batch of documents were found at the Penn Biden Center, Fox News reported.

A Facebook video allegedly shows Jean-Pierre walking out on a press conference after being asked a question about classified documents. The video opens with Jean-Pierre calling on Fox News journalist, Peter Doocy, to ask a question. The video was also shared to Twitter, where it garnered over 5,500 retweets.

“And then, on these documents, how could anyone be that irresponsible?” Doocy asks. “Isn’t that what this President says about mishandling classified documents?” Jean-Pierre appears to whistle and walk out saying, “We’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you.”

This video is digitally edited, however. The genuine video can be found on YouTube and shows a Jan. 11 press briefing. Around the 39:03 timestamp, Doocy can be heard asking his question followed by Jean-Pierre’s response, which was omitted in the edited video. “The President spoke to this personally,” she says. “He believes that classified documents and information should be taken seriously.”

The clip of Jean-Pierre leaving is actually shown at the end of the conference, around the 58:00 mark, and is not in response to a question.

 

Check Your Fact found no credible news reports about Jean-Pierre walking out on a conference. (RELATED: Did Joe Biden Leave The Room During A Joint Press Conference With Volodymyr Zelenskyy?)

This is not the first time misinformation about Joe Biden’s White House has been spread online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim California will allow illegal immigrants to become law enforcement officers.

Anna Mock

Fact Check Reporter

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