President Biden's 258-page interview transcript with special counsel Robert Hur last October reveals a more nuanced portrayal of his memory than Hur's report, showing moments of confidence and defiance alongside over 100 instances of "I don't know" or similar phrases. The transcript includes discussions about Biden's handling of classified documents, his son's death, and details about his Wilmington home. Biden's memory lapses and detailed storytelling are highlighted, with his defiant stance on keeping personal notebooks and his humorous quips throughout the interviews.
A report by special counsel Robert Hur revealed that President Joe Biden knowingly kept classified materials at home for years and failed to turn them in, including disclosing classified information to a ghostwriter on multiple occasions and storing notebooks full of state secrets in unlocked drawers. While the evidence of "willful retention" wasn't strong enough for prosecution, some national security experts criticized Biden's handling of classified documents, stating that a senior government official should be held to a higher ethical standard. The report also contradicted the White House's previous statements, and highlighted instances where concerns were raised about mishandling of classified material.
The White House clashed with the Department of Justice over a special counsel report that included critical language about President Joe Biden's age and memory, with the president's attorneys claiming the report violated DOJ policy. Despite the report's damning characterizations of Biden's mental acuity, it concluded that no criminal charges were warranted, leading to criticism from the president's critics and a public perception that he is too old to serve another term. The Justice Department rebuffed efforts to omit the critical language, and the special counsel is scheduled to testify about the report to Congress in March.
Special counsel Robert Hur is set to testify before Congress on March 12 regarding his investigation into President Biden's handling of classified records, concluding that neither Biden nor his aides would face criminal charges over the documents, but highlighting potential national security risks. Republicans have seized on the report's characterization of Biden's memory lapses during interviews, while the White House has pushed back on the descriptions as "gratuitous." Hur, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, noted Biden's cooperation in the investigation as a factor in the decision not to bring charges, and his upcoming testimony is expected to spark controversy on Capitol Hill.
The Biden administration clashed with the Justice Department over the release of a special counsel report containing disparaging comments about President Biden's handling of classified information. White House and personal lawyers for Biden objected to the report's passages, claiming they violated department policy, but the Justice Department's senior career official rejected their criticism, insisting that the comments fell within the department's standards for public release. The exchange reveals the White House's efforts to mitigate the political fallout from the report's release and the Justice Department's decision to proceed despite objections.
White House lawyers wrote letters to Attorney General Merrick Garland objecting to special counsel Robert Hur's report on Joe Biden, arguing that it violated Justice Department policies and unfairly depicted the president. The letters reveal the extent of the disagreement between the White House and the Justice Department over the report's content and release. Despite objections from the White House, the Justice Department defended the report's contents and its public release, leading to ongoing political fallout and calls for further investigation.
President Biden refused to take questions during a White House address, stating that he didn't want anything to interfere with his statement. This comes after a combative press conference where he clashed with reporters over concerns about his age and mental acuity following the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur's report. The report concluded that Biden would not face charges due to being a "well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory," fueling ongoing concerns about his fitness for a second term.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are in a tight election rematch, with Trump holding 37% support and Biden at 34%. The poll was conducted after a special prosecutor's report commented on Biden's mental acuity, describing him as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." The poll also revealed that Trump faces potential political liability due to ongoing criminal prosecutions, with a significant portion of Republicans and independents indicating they would not vote for him if convicted of a felony.
Stuart Varney reacts to a special counsel report questioning Biden's mental ability to serve a second term, highlighting Democrats' responses and a poll showing that 86% of all voters and 77% of Democrats believe Biden is too old for a second term. Varney argues that it's time to explain to Biden that he cannot serve a second term.
Vice President Harris asserts her readiness to serve amid concerns about President Biden's age and mental aptitude, following a special counsel report that described Biden as an "elderly man with a poor memory." A poll conducted after the report's release found that 86% of Americans believe Biden is too old to serve in office, with 59% expressing the same concern about both Biden and his top GOP competitor, former President Trump. Harris, 59, has previously stated her preparedness to be president "if necessary" and dismissed concerns about Biden's fitness, while a Republican strategist suggested that Harris has become a significant issue in the upcoming election.
An overwhelming majority of Americans, as per an ABC News/Ipsos poll, believe President Joe Biden, aged 81, is too old for another term in the White House, with 86 percent expressing this view. The poll, conducted following a report from special counsel Robert Hur that raised concerns about Biden's mental acuity, also revealed that 59 percent of respondents think both Biden and former President Donald Trump, aged 77, are too old for the office. The Biden campaign is actively working to counter the negative perceptions stemming from the report, with surrogates dismissing the depiction of Biden's capabilities and emphasizing his sharpness and focus.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas denies responsibility for the broken immigration system, while the Biden campaign criticizes a special counsel report on the president's mental fitness as "just a bucket of B.S." Additionally, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie expresses doubt about voting for Biden in 2024, and First Lady Jill Biden defends the president's memory following the report. The news also covers Trump's NATO comments, the Supreme Court hearing on a Trump Colorado ballot case, and the U.S. military strike that killed an Iran-backed militia commander.
Allies of President Joe Biden defended his mental acuity, dismissing a special counsel report's criticism as "gratuitous" and "inaccurate." Senior adviser Mitch Landrieu and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas both vouched for Biden's sharpness and ability to lead, with Mayorkas denying any consideration of invoking the 25th Amendment. Democrats joined in criticizing the report, while Biden himself expressed outrage at the allegations.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich criticized President Biden's leadership in light of a special counsel report highlighting the president's memory and recall issues. The report concluded that no charges should be brought against Biden but noted his potential challenges in a trial due to memory issues. Biden defended himself, asserting his mental capability, but Gingrich expressed concern, citing instances where Biden appeared confused.
Former White House physician and Texas GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson asserts that special counsel Robert Hur's report validates concerns about President Biden's cognitive health, describing him as having "serious issues." Despite Biden's denial and defense of his re-election campaign, Jackson believes the report proves Biden's cognitive unfitness, posing a national security risk that worsens daily. Jackson also criticizes the government's alleged weaponization for political purposes and highlights the lack of transparency regarding Biden's mental health, calling for a cognitive test.
