The spotlight on Tuesday will undoubtedly center around special counsel Robert Hur, whose investigation into President Joe Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents has been the subject of intense scrutiny. With his bombshell revelations regarding Biden’s memory, all attention will be fixed on him as he prepares to testify before the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee.
During this high-stakes hearing, he is expected to face a barrage of probing questions regarding the extensive 388-page report that he recently unveiled.
Hur’s yearlong investigation, which ultimately concluded that Biden mishandled classified material and improperly disclosed classified information as a private citizen, was a farce considering what former President Trump is facing. Despite these serious allegations, Hur conveniently found insufficient evidence to prosecute Biden.
Even more ludicrous is his admission that he wouldn’t have pursued charges even if the Justice Department had given him the green light to indict a sitting president. This whole situation reeks of double standards and selective justice.
However, it was Hur’s assessment of Biden’s cognitive abilities that sent shockwaves throughout Washington. He described Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” explaining the uphill battle prosecutors might face when trying to convince a potential jury that Biden was a criminal. Republicans will undoubtedly question Hur about Biden’s mental acuity after his report painted a damaging portrait of the president’s memory, calling it “significantly limited” and “hazy” at times.
Biden and his allies have vehemently rejected claims of a faulty memory, but Republicans were quick to seize on the report to argue that he is unfit to serve, particularly as they focus on Biden’s age as a major point of attack in the 2024 presidential race. At 81, Biden is the oldest US president in history, while Donald Trump, at 77, is only a few years younger.
The report not only referred to Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory” but also highlighted instances during his interview with Hur’s office in October where he couldn’t recall the exact timing of his son Beau’s death or the years he served as vice president under Barack Obama.
In a display of visible anger, President Biden later retorted to reporters with a defensive tone, emphasizing his intention as well-meaning. He even drew attention to his age, asserting his competence by stating that he knows what he is doing. With a hint of indignation, he questioned the audacity of others in mentioning Beau’s death in the report, claiming that he does not require any reminders of when his late son passed away.
The officials and Biden’s lawyer criticized the report, claiming it inaccurately portrayed the president’s memory during a post-Hamas attack interview.
A faction of House Republicans has vocally demanded the invocation of the 25th Amendment by the vice president and the Cabinet to oust President Biden from office, citing concerns over his mental acuity following remarks made by Hur. They assert that based on these concerns, President Biden seems incapable of fulfilling his presidential duties effectively.
Hur will be testifying on Tuesday at a congressional hearing about Biden’s mishandling of classified documents. There will be a court hearing in Florida regarding Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago by special counsel Jack Smith two days later.
The stark contrast between the two investigations – with Trump facing indictment while Biden walks free – has predictably ignited a storm of political infighting in Washington. (Trump, for his part, maintains his innocence.) The disparity is glaring and has become a contentious topic.
Democrats may focus on Hur’s comparison of Trump and Biden’s behavior, emphasizing Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents contrasted with Biden’s cooperation with authorities.
But, if according to Democrats at the beginning of the Mar-a-Lago probe, shouldn’t justice rest on whether or not they had the legal authority to possess the documents instead?
George Eliason
