Last week, House Republicans requested that the Justice Department release the full transcript and recordings of Biden’s five-hour interview with special counsel Robert Hur. This request was made to three House committees – Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Oversight – and they have given a deadline of 5 PM on Monday for the release of this material.
Now, this interview was conducted back in October and was a part of the special counsel’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified information after he left office as vice president. In the interview, Hur described Biden as “an elderly man with a poor memory” and pointed to his answers as evidence.
The White House and the Justice Department have not yet responded to this request, but sources say that it will likely go through a declassification process before any material is released. This could take some time as the transcript may need to be reviewed by various government agencies, such as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the State Department, and the CIA. Additionally, there may be underlying materials that need to be reviewed, such as discussions from the Obama administration and senior government officials.
The White House has already been in the process of declassifying the transcript, but has not given a timeline for when it will be made public. They have also mentioned that there is no video component to the interview, only an audio recording.
Meanwhile, Biden’s team is weighing their options on how to handle the release of this information and its potential impact on the president’s public image and political standing. They are considering whether to release the full transcript or just specific moments from the interview.
It has also been confirmed that special counsel Robert Hur will testify before a Republican-led House panel next month. Hur will be testifying on March 12 before the House Judiciary Committee, which is led by Rep. Jim Jordan.
BREAKING: Special Counsel Robert Hur will testify in a public hearing with the House Judiciary Committee on March 12th.https://t.co/5LHc9z6FtK https://t.co/uE6xhO62Vo
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 15, 2024
It’s important to note that the White House has already embraced Hur’s conclusion that Biden should not be criminally charged. However, they have sharply criticized his characterization of the president as an “elderly man with a poor memory”. This could become a major talking point for Biden’s critics, who have pointed to his age and mental acuity as a reason why he should not seek re-election.
That being said, it’s clear that this release of information is a politically charged one. House Republicans have stated that Biden’s handling of classified documents is a key part of their investigation and will help them determine if there is enough evidence to support drafting articles of impeachment.
President Trump just posted a new statement on Truth Social about Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report about @JoeBiden’s mishandling of classified documents and his declining cognitive state.
Trump is calling out the TWO TIER SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, under which he has been attacked,… pic.twitter.com/FfR8Vmd7TK
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) February 10, 2024