Transcript of Biden’s Special Counsel Interview Tells a More Complete Story About His Memory of Beau Biden’s Death
By: Mediaite
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Jamie FreveleMar 12th, 2024, 9:31 am Twitter share button
AP Photo/Evan Vucci; AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File
The transcripts of the two-day interview conducted between President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding Biden's classified documents case were released and reviewed by The Washington Post on Tuesday, and the text paints a much different picture than what was portrayed in Hur's initial report.
When Hur's report came out in February, he described Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," an image that bolstered Republican questions about Biden's age and fitness for office. In turn, Biden and his allies criticized Hur for bringing up the subject of his late son Beau Biden, though it was claimed by Hur that Biden himself raised the subject.
But the Post's review of the transcript of the full conversation tells a different story.
Hur claimed in his report that Biden couldn't remember when Beau died; to the contrary, he cites the exact day, but he did ask for the year. Accusations that Hur was being too harsh were also contradicted:
President Biden was in the early stages of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur when the topic of Beau Biden came up — initially with Biden raising it and later as Biden was attempting to get his chronological bearings and wondered aloud when, exactly, it was that his son died.
"What month did Beau die? Oh God, May 30," he said, naming the correct day, according to a transcript of the exchange reviewed by The Washington Post.
Two others in the room chimed in with the year, and Biden questioned, "Was it 2015 when he died?"
Not long after the exchange, Hur suggested they consider taking a brief break.
"No," Biden responded, before launching into a long explanation of Beau's death and its impact on him deciding not to run for president in 2016. "Let me just keep going to get it done."
Following that exchange, Hur said: "Just allow me to say for a moment, I am so terribly, terribly sorry for your loss." This stands in contrast to the crass demeanor the Special Counsel is alleged to have used by Biden surrogates.
The Post stated that the conversation between the two seemed polite and cordial but overall cooperative: "The full transcript provides a more complete window into the back and forth between the two men, in which Biden frequently joked with prosecutors in a setting that seemed more chummy than antagonistic."
To be certain, there were some things that Biden was questioned about that he couldn't remember in great detail, such as daily routine activities from several years ago. There was also some ruminating about certain years, related to whether or not Biden was Vice President at the time. But mostly, it looked as if Biden was more guilty of digressing and going off on tangents (while still answering questions):
Once, it was while lamenting that he [Biden] could drive his vintage Chevrolet Corvette only the length of his driveway. The other time was during a lengthy exchange over the torque of electric vehicles.
"By the way, you know how it works?" Biden asked Hur. "It's really cool."
Hur remarked, "Sir, I'd love — I would love, love to hear much more about this, but I do have a few more questions to get through."
"You step your foot on the accelerator all the way down until it gets about six, seven grand," Biden continued. "Then all the sudden it will say 'launch.' All you do is take your foot off the brake."
The transcript then indicates "(Makes car sound)" as well as "(Laughter)."
"It's on my bucket list," Hur responded, before turning to questions regarding classified documents that had been discovered at the Penn Biden Center.
Hur, who resigned from his position as Special Counsel on Monday, has stood by his report. He is expected to testify before Congress in regard to Biden's classified documents case on Tuesday.
Read the full analysis at The Washington Post.
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The hearing today started out with dueling videos from both sides portraying the forgetfulness and verbal stumbling of the two candidates.
Should be a contentious hearing.
Why should Trump videos be brought up for a hearing about the Hur report? That is a rhetorical questions, the answer is obvious.
because these republican hearings are a joke
All hearings are a joke. Especially if they don't allow people from the other side to participate in it unless they are lockstep with the majority. Jan 6th comes to mind.
Still, the bothsiderism and deflection is noted by every non partisan person that has nothing better to do than watch it.
Why is a lawyer making claims about Biden's fitness for office? He's not a medical professional
He isn't. He was talking about juries being sympathetic.