Special Counsel Report Clears President Biden of Criminal Charges
In a highly anticipated report released on Thursday, special counsel Robert Hur announced that President Joe Biden will not face criminal charges for his handling of classified military and national security information. The year-long investigation concluded that while Biden did retain and disclose classified documents, no criminal charges were warranted in the matter. This news is likely to draw criticism and comparisons to the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents.
The report reveals that Biden believed he was allowed to keep the classified information contained in his personal notebooks. Hur stated that prosecutors would not be able to prove that Biden intentionally broke the law. One of the reasons for not bringing charges was the difficulty of prosecuting Biden, who could appear sympathetic to a jury due to his age and poor memory. The President cooperated with the investigation and promptly returned the classified documents once they were discovered.
The investigation found that Biden had knowledge of the classified documents in his possession as far back as 2017, even though he was no longer vice president at that time. Some of this information was shared with the ghostwriter for Biden’s memoir published in the same year. The report noted significant differences between this case and the charges brought against former President Donald Trump.
The report’s release marks the conclusion of Hur’s investigation, but it is expected to fuel criticism from Trump and his allies in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Republicans have drawn parallels between this investigation and the one conducted by special counsel Jack Smith, who brought charges against Trump related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office. However, there are critical differences between the two cases.
The report confirms that FBI agents recovered classified materials from Biden’s home in Delaware, including marked documents on military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, as well as notebooks containing Biden’s handwritten entries on national security issues. The investigation revealed that Biden’s memory was significantly limited during interviews, making it difficult to convince a jury of his guilt.
Hur emphasized the distinctions between the Trump and Biden cases in his report. Notably, the National Archives repeatedly attempted to retrieve documents from Trump’s possession, even securing a search warrant for his Florida estate. In contrast, Biden’s attorneys promptly informed the National Archives about the materials found in his possession. The President cooperated with the investigation, consented to searches of multiple locations, and sat for a voluntary interview.
Congressional lawmakers have received a hard copy of the report and have vowed to continue their own investigation into the matter. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur, a former Trump-appointed US attorney, to lead the criminal probe after classified files were discovered at Biden’s home and private office. While Biden has refrained from commenting extensively on the case, he expressed surprise at the discovery of classified documents in his former office and pledged full cooperation with the Justice Department.
The White House Counsel’s Office has reviewed the report and declined to exert any executive privilege over its content. Previous reports indicated that the documents found at Biden’s locations covered various topics, including Ukraine, Iran, and the United Kingdom.
The federal probe included interviews with a range of witnesses, including President Biden himself, longtime adviser Steve Ricchetti, and former White House staff members. The investigation aimed to determine whether Biden’s retention and disclosure of classified documents violated any laws.
In conclusion, the special counsel report has cleared President Joe Biden of criminal charges regarding his handling of classified information. While questions may still linger, the report highlights the differences between this case and previous investigations, particularly the prompt cooperation from the President and his willingness to return the classified documents. The findings are likely to shape the political landscape leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
