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President Joe Biden inspected the landscaping at his Wilmington, Delaware, home a week ago after returning from church in his armored SUV.
The large house situated on a man-made pond, three miles or five kilometers away from the downtown area, holds a significant place – some may even say an obsession – in his heart.
During his meeting with special prosecutor Robert Hur, Biden admitted to improperly retaining sensitive documents from his time as vice president. Biden confessed to being a “frustrated architect” three times throughout the five-hour conversation.
His wife, Jill, suggested that he go to architecture school instead of running for the Senate, but he declined. However, his passion for architectural design remains evident, as he has considered making changes to his home post-presidency.
The residence is at the center of the dispute surrounding Biden’s management of classified materials. Both FBI officials and the president’s attorneys acknowledged the presence of 28 items in the house that had classified information or markings from Biden’s term as vice president. In the last week, Hur stood by his conclusion that there was inadequate proof to prosecute Biden for deliberately keeping classified information.
During Hur’s interview in the autumn, which was made public on the same day a House committee heard from the special counsel, Biden carefully describes the features of his house with precise attention, prompting Hur to note his remarkable ability to remember details despite his doubts about the president’s memory on other matters.
After Biden got out of the car to check out the landscape, it was evident that the area had recently undergone a renovation project that lasted about a year. The Secret Service was in charge of enhancing security measures at the president’s residence, which involved installing new fences and vehicle barriers, adding bulletproof windows, and making significant alterations to the house as requested by the agency for increased safety.
Last year’s satellite images revealed that the construction workers removed the second-floor balcony and the sunroom overlooking the pond during the renovations of the southern side of the 7,000-square-foot (650-square-meter) residence and its surrounding area.
In January 2023, ceiling fans from the sunroom were kept in Biden’s messy garage, along with his treasured Corvette. During this time, FBI agents conducted a thorough 13-hour search of the house in search of classified documents.
The residence, nicknamed the “lake house” by Biden’s team, has been a central part of his life since 1998. It has served as a location for meetings with advisors and occasional politicians for many years, as well as a makeshift studio in the basement where he ran his 2020 presidential campaign during the pandemic.
Biden frequently spends his weekends at the Wilmington residence, typically remaining from Friday through Monday. One advantage: The location is conveniently close to the Philadelphia region, which is considered a key swing state for Democrats as Biden works to secure another term in office.
Biden’s trips to Wilmington can be seen as a continuation of his previous daily commute from Delaware to Washington while serving as vice president. For his three decades in the Senate, Biden regularly traveled to and from Washington on Amtrak.
The residence in Delaware serves as a central location for both his family and a select group of close friends, offering a break from the constant watchful eye of the White House. Biden’s advisors explain that he finds a sense of stability in Wilmington, where his conversations with fellow churchgoers, neighbors, and his gardener often inspire the policy questions he poses to his team upon returning to Washington.
The building development, which was in progress at the time that FBI officials raided his residence, took longer than a year, causing disappointment for Biden.
“The familiarity of my house is better known to the FBI than it is to me,” joked Biden to Hur. In a previous statement to journalists, he expressed frustration saying, “During the construction, I am left with nowhere to call my home.”
Biden’s aides reported that he was frustrated with the slow progress of the renovations, a feeling that is commonly shared by homeowners. Not being able to visit the property and witness the changes for months only added to his stress. After leaving office, he hopes to undo some of the alterations.
The president and his wife meticulously designed the layout of their home, which they bought in 1996.
“I am a frustrated architect and as you may have seen, I have drawn a significant number of house plans,” Biden told Hur, referring to a set of drawers that investigators opened.
Biden took on some of the tasks for the home independently, occasionally with assistance from his sons Hunter and the deceased Beau, as well as his brother Jimmy. He meticulously oversaw the remaining modifications, paying close attention to every detail.
“I have used a lot of different contractors,” he stated, including roofers in his list. “They worked tirelessly for three years to construct the house.”
Biden decorated the house with numerous sentimental objects, including the desk he used during his time in the Senate and various trinkets collected throughout his career in politics. He also has a large collection of 3×2 photographs documenting significant moments from his tenure in public service.
Biden informed Hur that he had adorned the walls of the downstairs area, television room, and library with them.
A secure operations center for Secret Service and military personnel is now located in the cottage at the end of the driveway. However, prior to her passing in 2010 at 92 years old, the cottage was occupied by Biden’s mother.
As vice president, Biden earned a monthly rental income of $2,200 from the Secret Service for the guest house.
Biden holds great pride in his wood-paneled library at home, where a sparkling chandelier and luxurious, plush leather sofas can be found. This was the place where his personal notebooks, recording significant meetings during his tenure as vice president, were discovered by investigators.
“I wanted to inform you that I selected the walnut tree that was felled,” stated Biden during the investigation. Part of that walnut was used in the construction of the home. “I chose the craftsman to carry out this project – this room accounted for one third of my entire home. I swear on God.”
“It appears so,” Hur responded. “It’s quite remarkable.”
Referring to seven distinct sections of trim captured in photographs by the FBI in the room, he remarked, “I may have gone a little overboard.”
Source: independent.co.uk
