On Friday, Axios released audio recordings of an interview between Joe Biden, the former US president, and ex-special counsel Robert Hur, conducted during Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. This investigation notably concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Biden with any wrongdoing related to record mishandling after his term as vice president.
Hur’s final report portrayed Biden, who was 81 at the time, as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” These audio recordings are significant as they provide the first audible insights from the interview, complementing transcripts that had been previously released by the Biden administration.
A Department of Justice official confirmed the recordings’ authenticity, although Biden’s spokeswoman, Kelly Scully, remarked that the audio merely reaffirms existing public knowledge. The tapes have rekindled discussions surrounding Biden’s physical and mental fitness, particularly in light of a forthcoming book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson. The book, titled Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, aims to illustrate signs of Biden’s cognitive decline while in office.
During the five-hour interview, Biden appeared to struggle with recollections regarding his post-vice presidency records and even needed prompting to remember details about his late son, Beau. In certain segments, he expressed uncertainty regarding his handling of classified materials, prompting clarifications from aides in the room.
In early 2022, Hur decided against charging Biden but noted in his report that the former president "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials." The portrayal of Biden as having memory issues was deemed politically damaging and disputed fiercely by Biden and his supporters, who argued that the report’s interpretation was unfair.
House Republicans, amid an impeachment investigation, sought access to the interview records, which led to tensions with the Justice Department. Ultimately, while transcripts were made available, the audio remained protected under Biden’s executive privilege.
Interestingly, reactions to the audio release also inflected on Biden’s current political landscape, as scrutiny around his age and fitness for office resurfaced. Leading Democrats are under pressure regarding their knowledge of Biden’s cognitive state, with many pivoting focus towards strategies for the upcoming 2024 elections.
Biden himself has publicly countered accusations of cognitive decline, insisting that claims to the contrary are baseless. In a recent interview, he reaffirmed his capability to fulfil presidential responsibilities, rebutting arguments that suggest otherwise.