WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden was the subject of a recent special counsel report that found evidence of his willful retention and sharing of highly classified information from his time as a private citizen. The report, released by special counsel Robert Hur, did not recommend criminal charges against Biden, despite the unflattering characterizations of his memory and handling of sensitive government records.
The report’s findings are likely to raise questions about Biden’s competency, particularly as he gears up for a potential re-election bid. Notably, the investigation is separate from special counsel Jack Smith’s inquiry into the handling of classified documents by former President Donald Trump after he left the White House.
The report alleges that Biden willfully retained and shared highly classified information, including with a ghostwriter. It details evidence of his possession of sensitive documents from his time as vice president and senator, including records related to his opposition to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration.
Biden, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he did not share classified information and was not aware of how the boxes containing classified documents ended up in his garage. Despite the damaging findings, the report did not recommend charges against Biden, citing a number of reasons including his age and limited memory.
The revelations are an embarrassment for Biden, who has consistently touted his competency and experience as core qualities for his presidency. The report’s release, along with its unflattering assessments of Biden, has sparked backlash from his personal attorney and White House lawyers.
Special counsels are required to submit confidential reports to the attorney general at the conclusion of their work, and those reports are typically made public. Despite objections from Biden’s legal team, the public release of the report was inevitable once a special counsel was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland.