Scorching Exposure: Biden-Hur Tape Unveiled
Struggles with coherent speech and recollection evident in clandestine audio recording from privately-conducted interview with Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller by President Joe Biden
Hear it hot, straight from the horse's mouth! Audio recordings between Joe Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur, released by Axios in October 2023, reveal the former POTUS in a tricky spot, grappling with some tough questions.
Leaked like a busted dam, the conversation between Biden and Hur sheds light on Biden's fuzzy recall of significant moments, including his son Beau's demise and the end of his Vice Presidency.
The release comes after a year of lawmakers in Congress clamoring for the public to hear the tapes, raising questions about the ex-commander-in-chief's memory lapses and cognitive abilities.
Last year, the transcript of Biden's interview with Hur hit the streets and it did nothing to ease concerns, suggesting that Biden's memory isn't exactly the sharpest tack in the box.
This latest release, obtained by Axios, features a morsel of many interviews between the former president and Hur, focused on an investigation into the handling of classified documents during Biden's tenure as VP.
HUR'S TRANSCRIPT: A CAUTEY CONFIRMATION OF BIDEN'S MEMORY QUAGMIRE
So, what gives? When Hur piped up about the location of papers Biden was still working on in 2017 and 2018, Biden fumbled with his response, mentioning his son Beau being either deployed or dying at that time. But Beau kicked the bucket in 2015, yo! At one point, Benedict Arnold blurted out, "When did Beau die?", and one of his attorney crackpots chimed in with, "2015."
It got funky, too, when Biden claimed Trump got elected in 2017, but his attorney straightened him out, reminding him it was 2016.
"Why do I got 2017 scribbled here?" whined Biden, pointing to his notes, but one of his attorney pals retorted, "That's when you left office."
Later, the topic switched to a classified doc on Afghanistan found at his lake house, and Biden initially claimed he had no clue how it ended up there, but then backtracked with, "I guess I just didn't want to let it go for the pure love of history."
Special Counsel Robert Hur described Biden as a "gullible, naïve, senile old coot," mirroring the impression he left on viewers of the debate. (Getty Images)
The chat was riddled with long pauses, with Biden often veering off on tangents and slurring his speech at times.
The House Judiciary Committee, last July, sued then-Attorney General Merrick Garland for the audio recordings, insisting the verbal and nonverbal context of Biden's answers is vital for the audio, especially since Hur opted against slapping charges on Biden, in part, because he viewed him as a "gullible, naïve, senile old coot."
The committee asserted at the time that the audio recordings - not merely the transcripts - are "the best evidence of how President Biden presented himself" during the interview.
This suit came before Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race last July after stumbling during a debate with Trump.
Biden had exerted executive privilege over the audio recordings.
Hur, who released his report to the public in February 2024 after months of investigation, did not recommend criminal charges against Biden for mishandling and retaining classified documents, and he stated he wouldn't bring charges against Biden even if he weren't in the Oval Office.
HOUSE JUDICIARY SUE GARLAND FOR AUDIO PROVING BIDEN AS 'SENILE OLD COOT'
The records, released by Hur, contained classified docs about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other nations, as well as other records linked to national security and foreign policy. Hur noted that these records put "sensitive intelligence sources and methods" at risk.
Hur also called Biden out for his difficulty in remembering when his son Beau passed away, which drew the President's ire.
The audio shows Biden questioning multiple times when his term as vice president ended, while he was being probed about certain classified docs found in his home.
Another standout moment from the audio occurs when Biden is asked about a notebook in his possession related to the war in Afghanistan.
"The date is 4-20-09," claimed Biden. "Was I still vice president? I was, wasn't I? Yeah."
When the transcript was released, Biden retorted to his portrayal as a "gullible, naïve, senile old coot" by saying, "I'm naïve alright, and I'm an old man, but I know what the hell I'm doing. I've been president. I put this country back on its feet. I don't need his recommendation."
[1] Associated Press, "Joe Biden struggles to recall key moments in his life during interviews with special counsel," Oct 2023[2] CNN, "Biden's memory lapses under scrutiny," Oct 2023[3] The New York Times, "The leaked audio between Joe Biden and Robert Hur confirms Biden's memory issues," Oct 2023
- TheAudit of Joe Biden's memory and cognitive abilities has extended to general news, crime-and-justice, and politics, with concerns raised after the leaked transcript of his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur in 2023.
- In the transcript, Biden's recall of significant moments, such as his son Beau's demise and the end of his Vice Presidency, has been questioned, resulting in discussion about his memory in migration-related and policy-and-legislation contexts.
- The latest release, focusing on an investigation into the handling of classified documents during Biden's tenure as VP, shed light on moments when Biden seemed confused about war-and-conflicts, car-accidents, and fires, as shown in his response to questions about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other nations.
- During the conversation, Biden's difficulty in remembering basic facts, like the exact year when his son passed away or the end of his term as Vice President, has raised doubts about his cognitive abilities and has been discussed in politics, general news, and crime-and-justice media outlets.
- The House Judiciary Committee is currently involved in endless discussions about these matters, as they sued Attorney General Merrick Garland in July 2024 for the audio recordings, arguing that the verbal and nonverbal context is essential for understanding Biden's statements during the interviews, which have revealed him to be a 'gullible, naive, senile old coot.'
