Confidential documents: no charges against Joe Biden due to his “poor memory”
The special prosecutor responsible for investigating accusations of mishandling of confidential documents by Joe Biden decided not to recommend prosecution in a report published Thursday February 8 which describes the American president as an “
elderly man with a bad memory
”. Immediate reaction from the Republican camp in the House of Representatives: Biden is “
unfit
” to be president.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event at the White House in Washington, February 6, 2024. REUTERS - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN
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Special Prosecutor Robert Hur was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland following the discovery in 2022 of classified documents dating from Joe Biden's time as vice president (2009-2017) in his residence in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as in a former office.
In his report released this Thursday, February 8, Robert Hur concludes that Joe Biden, 81, “
knowingly kept and disclosed classified documents after his vice-presidency while he was a private citizen
.” But he considers that "
an indictment would not be justified
", considering in particular that a jury would give the benefit of the doubt to "
an elderly, sympathetic, well-intentioned man, with a bad memory
".
In his 388-page report, Robert Hur notably mentions his five-hour interview with Joe Biden during which he said he noticed that “
his memory had gotten worse
”. “
He no longer remembered when he was vice-president
,” no longer knowing exactly in what year his mandate began or ended, nor exactly the year of the death of his eldest son Beau, the special prosecutor asserts.
In a statement, President Biden immediately reacted, saying that “
the matter was closed
” and the White House lawyer welcomed the decision of the special prosecutor not to prosecute, but regretted “
inappropriate comments
” on his part.
“Unfit” to be president, according to the Republican staff in the House
The report was immediately exploited by the Republican staff in the House of Representatives, who considered that Joe Biden was “
unfit
” to be president.
“
A man deemed too incapacitated to be held responsible for mismanagement of classified information is certainly unfit for the Oval Office
” of the White House, they asserted in a joint statement.
Also read: United States: new twist in the affair of Joe Biden's confidential documents
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