Former Vice President Mike Pence has apologized for keeping classified documents at his home in Indiana.
Speaking Friday at Florida International University, Pence said he was unaware he had any classified documents but takes "full responsibility."
"While I was not aware that those classified documents were in our personal residence, let me be clear: Those classified documents should not have been in my personal residence. Mistakes were made. And I take full responsibility," he said, per CNN.
Roughly a dozen such documents were found at Pence's home in Carmel, Indiana, all of which were handed over to federal authorities.
Pence said the documents were discovered by his lawyer, who he directed to search for any classified material "out of an abundance of caution" after similar documents had been found at President Joe Biden's private office in Washington, D.C. and his Delaware home.
Pence's team told Fox News that the former vice president informed the National Archives on Jan. 18 of a small number of potentially classified documents being found on Jan. 16 in two small boxes. The FBI was then informed by the National Archives, following standard procedure.
"Vice President Pence was unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence," attorney Greg Jacob wrote to the National Archives. "Vice President Pence understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information and stands ready and willing to cooperate fully with the National Archives and any appropriate inquiry."
Months earlier, Pence spoke with ABC News saying that he "did not" take any classified documents with him when he left office.
"There'd be no reason to have classified documents, particularly if they were in an unprotected area," he said at the time, while also addressing the seizure of classified documents from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago estate. "I believe there had to be many better ways to resolve that issue than executing a search warrant at the personal residence of a former president of the United States."
The Justice Department is now review the documents. Pence has vowed to fully cooperate in any investigation.
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