Joe Biden document affair: Special investigator makes pointed remark

The special investigator in the Joe Biden documents affair has decided not to indict the US President. His report could still hurt the Democrat.

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,” said special counsel Robert Hur’s report on Thursday. 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 special investigator’s report does not mean that the US President will be prosecuted. It will still be a slap in the face for Biden because it contains explosive assessments of his mental state. This could have a serious political impact on the 81-year-old in the election campaign, as his political rival Donald Trump has already attacked his advanced age in his campaign speeches in the past.

The finds were also particularly politically sensitive for Biden, as Trump had caused a scandal with a similar case and has to answer in court for his handling of documents. Both Biden and Trump want to run again in the US presidential election in November. They are considered the most likely presidential candidates for their respective parties.

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Biden is said to have “intentionally taken secret materials.”

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 moving into the White House as number one in the state at the beginning of 2021.

About a year ago, several tranches of confidential documents from Biden’s time as vice president appeared 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 the special counsel 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.” These were said to have included classified information about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan marked as secret, as well as notebooks with handwritten entries from Biden himself. The notes dealt with national security and foreign policy issues that included sensitive intelligence sources and methods.

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White House criticizes “inappropriate statements”

“FBI agents found these materials in the garage, offices and basement of Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware,” the report said. 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 poor memory.” In the current presidential election campaign, the Democrat is already struggling with the debate about his old age, which is fueling doubts about his suitability for the powerful office.

The White House welcomed the decision but criticized “erroneous and inappropriate statements” in the special counsel’s report. In this context, lawyer Richard Sauber referred to the comments about Biden’s memory. Biden himself was “pleased” with the decision, which he had expected. The matter was now “closed,” the president said. During his time as a politician, he was “always committed to protecting America’s security,” Biden added. “I take these issues seriously and no one has ever doubted it.”