The FBI has arrived at Mike Pence’s Indiana home for a consensual search for classified material

The FBI has arrived at Mike Pence’s Indiana home for a consensual search for classified material.

It follows disclosures by Mr Pence’s attorneys that they found “a small number” of classified files from his vice-presidency at the home last month.

The US Department of Justice has not yet confirmed that Friday’s search is related to the classified file probe.

People familiar with the matter told US media the search was consensual.

But Paxton did commit to making a remarkable public apology toward some of his formerly trusted advisers whom he fired or forced out after they reported him to the FBI. He called them “rogue employees” after they accused Paxton of misusing his office to help one of his campaign contributors, who also employed a woman with whom the attorney general acknowledged having an extramarital affair.

Both sides signed a mediated agreement that was filed in the Texas Supreme Court and will be followed by a longer, formalized settlement.

“Attorney General Ken Paxton accepts that plaintiffs acted in a manner that they thought was right and apologizes for referring to them as ‘rogue employees,’” the final settlement must state, according to court records.

That discovery was the most recent in a growing controversy that has already embroiled both former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden.

Mr Trump faces a criminal investigation for allegedly mishandling classified documents, while Mr Biden faces a probe by the US Department of Justice.

The Wall Street Journal said the search was related to classified material, while a spokesperson for Mr Pence told CNN he is away, but a private attorney is present as the search gets under way.

The New York Times and Reuters also reported the search.

In January, representatives for Mr Pence sent a letter to the National Archives – the US government agency that manages the preservation of presidential records – alerting them that they had found classified documents in the former vice-presidents home.

In all, eight members of Paxton’s senior staff joined in the extraordinary revolt in 2020, and they either resigned or were fired. The attorney general said he settled with the four who sued under Texas’ whistleblower law to put to rest “this unfortunate sideshow.”

“I have chosen this path to save taxpayer dollars and ensure my third term as attorney general is unburdened by unnecessary distractions,” Paxton said in a statement.

The $3.3 million payout would not come from Paxton’s own pocket but from state funds, which means it would still require approval by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature.

Settlement of the case, which Paxton’s office fought in court for years, means he will avoid sitting for a civil deposition at a time when a corruption investigation by federal agents and prosecutors remains open. In turn, the attorney general’s office agreed to remove an October 2020 news release from its website that decries Paxton’s accusers and to issue the statement of contrition to former staffers David Maxwell, Ryan Vassar, Mark Penley and James Blake Brickman.