In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden addressed the public in an unexpected press conference on Thursday night, responding to the conclusions of a special counsel report investigating his handling of classified documents. Special Counsel Robert Hur, while acknowledging mishandling, opted not to pursue charges against the president.
During the conference, President Biden admitted to not being fully aware of his staff’s actions, stating, “I take responsibility for not having seen exactly what my staff was doing.” He asserted that items found in his garage and home were moved by his staff, distancing himself from any direct involvement.
Responding to the report’s mention of memory lapses during an interview, Biden denied forgetting details such as his son Beau’s death. He vehemently rejected the characterization of him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
When fielding questions from reporters, concerns about Biden’s memory and mental acuity surfaced, a topic heightened by the special counsel’s report. In response to Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy’s inquiry about his memory, Biden retorted, “My memory is fine. Take a look at what I’ve done since I’ve become president.”
Tensions escalated when another reporter pressed Biden on public worries regarding his mental state, a sentiment reflected in numerous polls. Biden vehemently defended himself, insisting, “That is your judgment! That is not the judgment of the press!” In a moment of confusion, he mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the President of Mexico.
The special counsel’s investigation uncovered classified documents spanning Biden’s Senate career to his vice presidency with Barack Obama. Noteworthy findings included handwritten notes detailing materials from daily briefings and National Security Council meetings during the Obama administration. The FBI recovered these documents, along with sensitive national security-related notebook entries, from Biden’s estate in Wilmington, Delaware. Hur cited DOJ policy on prosecuting a president as the basis for not pursuing charges against Biden.
