US President Joe Biden responded angrily to an investigation that found he mishandled top-secret files and struggled to recall key life events. In a surprise news briefing, he insisted his memory is fine and gave an emotional response to allegations about his son’s death.
The Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur determined that Biden had improperly retained and disclosed classified documents related to military and foreign policy in Afghanistan after serving as vice-president. The 345-page report found that the president’s memory had “significant limitations”.
Biden responded to reporters’ questions about his age and mental acuity, but inadvertently referred to Egyptian leader Abdul Fattah al-Sisi as the “president of Mexico.” He also lashed out at the passages casting doubt on his recollection of events and denied the findings that he had shared sensitive material with a ghostwriter for his memoir.
The special counsel concluded that it would be difficult to convict the president of improper handling of files, but opinion polls indicate that the president’s age is a concern for US voters ahead of November’s White House election. Despite this, Biden claimed he is the most qualified candidate and knows what he is doing.
Biden faced tense questions from reporters at the news conference, where he blamed his staff for having classified documents in his garage and denied any wrongdoing. Both Biden and former President Donald Trump have faced allegations of mishandling classified documents, with Trump set to go to trial in May. Trump called for the justice department prosecutor to cancel his trial, while Biden remains uncharged.
The handling of classified documents by both presidents has brought attention to concerns about Biden’s age and mental acuity as well as raised questions about Trump’s previous actions. The special counsel’s report has added a layer of complexity to the political landscape in the run-up to the presidential election, as both presidents face scrutiny for their handling of sensitive government material. This has reignited debates about the age and mental fitness of politicians in high office.
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