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President Biden delivered a furious rebuttal to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report Thursday night after it flagged repeated issues with his memory even while announcing a decision not to charge him for having classified documents at his home and office.
‘I know what the hell I’m doing!’ an agitated Biden told reporters during a hastily arranged press conference at the White House after early takes on the report’s findings highlighted Hur’s account of memory issues, even as it hit him for ‘willfiully’ retaining classified information.
‘My memory has not gotten worse. My memory is fine. Take a look at what I have done since becoming president,’ Biden exclaimed.
‘No one thought I could pass any of the things I got passed. How did that happen? I guess I just forgot what was going on,’ he snarled, swearing repeatedly during the event.
The surprise announcement came hours after the Department of Justice released its long-awaited investigation into Joe Biden ‘s mishandling of classified documents
He was particularly animated with Hur’s inclusion of the claim that he couldn’t remember the timing of Beau’s death.
Biden brought up the topic himself, mentioning language int he report on ‘my recollection of events.’
‘How in the hell he dare he raise that?’ he fumed.
But in keeping with multiple public events this week, Biden botched the identification of a world leader, calling Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the President of Mexico.
‘I’m president I put this country back on its feet,’ he thundered.
‘There’s even reference that I don’t remember when my son died. How in the hell dare he raise that,’ he furiously stated. ‘I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone, to remind me of when he passed away.’
‘Frankly, when I was asked the question, I though to myself, “Wasn’t any of their damned business.”‘
He also said reports about his ‘willful’ retention of documents is ‘misleading.’
Biden blamed his staff for some of the decisions that got him in trouble and precipitated the year-long probe.
‘I take responsibility for not having seen exactly what my staff was doing,’ he said. He mentioned ‘things that appeared in my garage.’ Hur’s report described classified materials being kept near a collapsed dog crate, a broken lamp, and other items.
He said it all in an event in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room, announced only about a half hour before it started.
President Biden went after reporters and blasted Special Counsel Robert Hur for targeting his memory in his report announcing the decision not to charge him over handling of classified documents
His staff set up an RSVP system and didn’t let in all the reporters who wanted to be there. But efforts to control the environment backfired, as journalist after journalist asked him about the barbs that Hur included in his document.
One journalist, Peter Doocy, asked about the report’s language that one of the reasons he wasn’t charged was because a jury might be sympathetic to a ‘well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.’
‘I’m well meaning and I’m an elderly man, and I know what the hell I’m doing. I’m the president and I put this country back on its feet,’ he shot back. ‘I don’t need his recommendation it’s totally out of [order],’ he said.
‘How bad is your memory, and can you continue as president,’ Doocy asked him.
‘My memory is so bad I let you speak,’ Biden retorted.
The surprise address to the nation came hours after the Department of Justice released its long-awaited investigation into Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents Thursday, delivering a damning assessment of the president’s ‘diminished faculties’ and limited memory.
Although the report did not recommend bringing charges against the 81-year-old, it provides a cascade of damaging findings about files found in Biden’s garage as well as the president’s fitness for office.
In interviews with investigators, Biden became muddled about the dates he was vice president and could not even remember the year in which his son Beau died.
And it said his cavalier attitude to classified documents, such as his habit of reading sensitive files to a ghostwriter, posed a significant national security risk.
One of the reasons they decided not to press charges was because ‘at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory’.
If nothing else, his evening press conference vindicated comments earlier this week when he told reporters he would take their questions later in the week. Still, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would only say ‘stay tuned’ in advance.
It came after his aides had pointed to more favorable parts of the report, including a passage that said his errors were not in league with allegations faced by Donald Trump.
