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“Delighted”: Joe Biden
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Yuri Gripas / AP
The affair surrounding the discovery of secret government documents in US President Joe Biden's private rooms has no legal consequences for the Democrat. "We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter," says the report by special counsel Robert Hur, which was released in Washington. At the end of 2022, classified information from Biden's time as vice president was discovered in various locations, including in private offices in the capital Washington and in Biden's house in Wilmington, Delaware.
The finds were politically sensitive for the Democrat, as his Republican predecessor Donald Trump had caused a scandal with a similar case - and will have to answer in court for his handling of documents. Both Biden and Trump want to run again in the US presidential election in November.
Presidents and vice presidents are required to turn over secret documents to the National Archives after leaving office. They are not allowed to privately store confidential government records after leaving government. Biden was President Barack Obama's deputy from 2009 to 2017 before he moved into the White House as number one in the state at the beginning of 2021.
About a year ago, confidential documents from Biden's time as vice president appeared in several tranches in the Democrat's private rooms - including in the garage of his home in Wilmington. Initially, employees came across documents, later investigators were called in and searched rooms in various locations. Attorney General Merrick Garland ultimately appointed special prosecutor Hur to investigate the sensitive allegations.
His report now said that the investigation had shown that after his vice presidency, Biden "intentionally retained and disclosed classified materials while he was a private citizen." However, the evidence did not prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There are “mitigating factors.” In the report, Biden is characterized, among other things, as an “older man with a poor memory.” In the current presidential election campaign, the Democrat is already struggling with the debate over his old age, which is fueling doubts about his suitability for the powerful office. Recently he caused a stir with several slips of the tongue.
Biden and the White House came under heavy criticism for their information policy in the case. The government headquarters initially only commented very sparingly on the allegations. The public only found out about some finds when the media reported on them. Biden also drew some displeasure with his succinct statements. (Read more here: Biden's sloppiness becomes a political scandal)
Now Biden was “pleased” with the special investigator’s decision, which he had expected. He emphasized extensive cooperation with the investigators, after all, he has always been committed to protecting America's security: "I take these issues seriously and no one has ever doubted it."
sak/dpa