Newly released audio from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation reveals President Biden repeatedly forgot basic facts—including key dates from his own life—raising fresh questions about his fitness for office.
At a Glance
- Biden said “I don’t remember” multiple times during Hur’s classified documents interview
- He forgot when his son Beau died and when his vice presidency ended
- Hur described him as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”
- Despite the memory lapses, Hur declined to recommend criminal charges
- Critics say the leaked audio exposes serious cognitive decline and a legal double standard
“I Don’t Remember” — A President Under Scrutiny
The long-speculated content of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden is now public—and the audio raises new questions about the former commander-in-chief’s cognitive condition. Biden repeatedly responded with “I don’t remember” when questioned about how classified documents ended up at his Delaware lake house and in unsecured boxes.
In one exchange, investigators asked about his statement to a ghostwriter: “I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.” Biden responded, “I don’t remember.” These moments, repeated throughout the session, have left critics alarmed.
Watch a report: Hur Interview Audio: Biden’s Memory Lapses Revealed.
The most jarring moment came when Biden appeared to forget the year his son Beau died. “When did Beau die?” he asked aloud, drawing gasps across the political spectrum. He also confused his vice presidential term dates and couldn’t recall when Trump was elected, asking, “Why do I have 2017 here?”
Hur’s Report, Biden’s Response
Hur’s final report described Biden as a sympathetic figure, whose memory problems would complicate prosecution. Though he acknowledged Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials,” Hur declined to recommend charges—citing the President’s mental state and the challenges of proving criminal intent.
Biden, however, has fiercely rejected that portrayal. “I’m well-meaning, and I’m an elderly man, and I know what the hell I’m doing,” he told reporters after Hur’s assessment. Still, the audio paints a starkly different picture—one of confusion, hesitation, and fading recall.
Legal Double Standard?
Critics argue the contrast with Donald Trump’s recent legal peril over classified documents is glaring. Trump faced 91 charges across multiple indictments, including for alleged mishandling of national security files. Biden, by contrast, faces no charges despite similar circumstances—and an audio trail showing he may not fully grasp what happened.
The revelations have reignited allegations of a two-tier justice system. “If Trump said any of this on tape, impeachment would already be underway,” said one GOP strategist.
For now, the bigger question may be about Biden’s mental acuity. The audio leaks force a national conversation: Can a president who forgets his own timeline be trusted to make decisions on war, peace, and nuclear weapons? The Hur tapes may be just the beginning of that reckoning.
