Audio recordings from interviews between former President Joe Biden and special counsel Robert Hur have been released, revealing Biden’s difficulties in recalling key facts. The interviews took place over two sessions on October 8 and 9, 2023, and were obtained by Axios.
In one of the clips, Biden struggles to remember the year his son Beau passed away. Beau died from brain cancer on May 30, 2015, but Biden only recalls the month and day until prompted by Hur’s team. He also confuses the year Donald Trump was elected, mistakenly saying it was 2017 instead of 2016. Throughout the recordings, Biden appears to have trouble articulating his thoughts, often pausing and repeating himself. The ticking of a grandfather clock can be heard in the background, emphasizing the pauses in his speech.
The special counsel’s report noted that Biden’s memory issues played a role in the decision not to charge him for mishandling classified documents. It mentioned that a jury might find him sympathetic due to his age and memory challenges. The report stated, "Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited" during both his past interviews and the recent sessions.
In another audio clip, Biden admitted to keeping classified documents "for posterity’s sake." He explained that he wanted to hold onto materials related to his position on Afghanistan, suggesting a personal connection to the documents.
These recordings have sparked discussions about Biden’s cognitive abilities and how they might impact his presidency. As the situation unfolds, it raises questions about the implications of memory issues for a leader in such a critical role.
