Vice President Kamala Harris strongly criticized the recently released report by a Justice Department special counsel that examined Joe Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. Harris denounced the report as “politically motivated” and deemed it “gratuitous.” Meanwhile, the White House assured the public that measures would be taken to protect classified materials during presidential transitions.
The investigative report was conducted by Robert Hur, a U.S. attorney in Maryland appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 and chosen by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Biden’s actions. The report indicated that there was evidence suggesting Biden knowingly retained and shared highly classified information with a writing assistant. However, Hur concluded that the evidence fell short of meeting the criteria for criminal charges. He cited doubts about the Justice Department’s ability to prove Biden’s intent beyond a reasonable doubt as a significant factor in reaching this decision.
Acknowledging the White House’s acknowledgement of Biden’s mistake in keeping the documents in his home, Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office, revealed that Biden would establish a task force to enhance protocols for protecting classified materials during transitions between administrations.
The Hur report characterized the 81-year-old Democrat’s memory as “hazy,” “fuzzy,” “faulty,” “poor,” and with “significant limitations.” Additionally, it claimed that Biden could not recall important events in his life, such as the death of his son Beau or his tenure as vice president.
In response to a question regarding whether the White House would release a transcript of Biden’s interview with Hur to challenge Hur’s assertions, Sams disclosed that portions of the transcript were classified. Nonetheless, he assured that the White House would evaluate possible declassification of relevant segments to address public concerns.
Following a gun-violence-prevention event at the White House, Harris, drawing on her experience as a former prosecutor, criticized Hur’s remarks as “gratuitous, inaccurate, and inappropriate.”
President Biden’s Response to the Attack on Israel
In the aftermath of the attack by Hamas on Israel, President Joe Biden engaged in a two-day discussion with Hur, where they addressed the situation that claimed over 1,200 lives and resulted in the hostage situation of 250 individuals, including several Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris commended Biden’s dedication during these critical moments, emphasizing that he was actively involved and displayed exemplary leadership throughout the process.
Contrary to certain characterizations of the President’s response, Harris adamantly asserted that the allegations were baseless and motivated by political agendas rather than factual accuracy. She affirmed that the President’s demeanor in the incident report was profoundly misrepresented. Moreover, Harris argued that a higher level of integrity should be expected from a special counsel, implying that the report fell short of these standards.
The previous day, President Biden himself addressed concerns regarding his memory, affirming that his recollection remained intact. He expressed visible frustration at the White House, firmly denying any allegations of forgetting when his son, Beau Biden, passed away in 2015 from brain cancer at the age of 46.
Attorney Sams speculated that Hur’s inclusion of certain comments in the report may have been influenced by the current political climate. Considering the pressure generated by congressional Republicans and other political figures who openly criticize prosecutors they disagree with, Sams argued that this environment played a role in shaping Hur’s approach.
Dan Goldman, a former federal prosecutor and current House Democrat from New York, appeared on MSNBC to discuss Hur’s language in the report. He suggested that Hur, recognizing the anticipated criticism from his own party due to differing views on various investigations involving Presidents Biden and Trump, attempted to protect himself by taking politically motivated jabs at President Biden. Goldman labeled Hur’s actions as an attempt to sway public opinion during an election year.
