The decision not to indict Joe Biden for illegal possession of classified documents should have come as a relief to Joe Biden. On the contrary, it has the effect of a bomb, evoking a memory which presents “significant limits” in the 81-year-old president.
In a report, special prosecutor Robert Hur in charge of the case justifies his decision not to indict the president by explaining that he did not gather enough evidence. But above all he points to the failing memory of the 81-year-old president, described as “ f__loue “, ” defective “, ” poor ”, which presents “ important limitations “. It noted that Biden did not remember setting milestones in his own life, such as the death of his son Beau or the time he was vice president.
“ My memory is good “, Biden responded Thursday evening from the White House, visibly angry as he denied having forgotten the death of his son, evoking “ superfluous comments ” Who ” had no place in this report “. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
In response to journalists’ questions about his memory, Joe Biden disputes the report’s statements and declares that he is ” the most qualified person in this country to be president “.
A fragile memory
But as the president defends himself, he makes another blunder. While speaking with journalists about the war between Israel and Hamas, Joe Biden wrongly described Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sissi as “ president of Mexico “.
The White House also disputed the interpretation of language used in a Feb. 5 letter from the president’s lawyers published in Hur’s report. The letter states that “ Joe Biden’s inability to remember dates or details of events that happened years ago is neither surprising nor unusual “, particularly regarding when certain documents were packed or moved.
“ We do not believe the report’s treatment of President Biden’s memory is accurate or appropriate “, says the letter. “ The report uses highly prejudicial language to describe a common phenomenon among witnesses: a lack of recollection of years-old events. Such comments have no place in a Department of Justice report. »
It is not uncommon for people under government investigations to say they do not remember an event or conversation in order to avoid problems such as perjury. The special prosecutor has not released the transcript of the interviews with Biden, so some context is unclear. Former President Donald Trump, the current Republican front-runner, has boasted about his own memory but has also sometimes said in court proceedings that he does not remember certain events.
Powerful electoral issue for elderly candidates
In an August poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs, 77% of American adults said Biden was too old to be effective for four more years. It was one of the few sources of bipartisan agreement in a politically polarized era, with 89% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats saying Biden’s age was an issue.
Donald Trump, 77, is also facing questions about his recent memory lapses. In a speech in January, Trump repeatedly mistakenly confused former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, his primary opponent for the Republican Party nomination, with Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
But Republican criticism was quick to pile up Thursday when the special prosecutor’s report was made public. Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer said on X, formerly Twitter, that the report was “ alarming » and it is clear that Biden “ does not have the cognitive capacity to be president “.
“ If you’re too senile to stand trial, then you’re too senile to be president. Joe Biden is not fit to lead this nation “, said Alex Pfeiffer, spokesperson for Make America Great Againthe main organization supporting the candidacy of Donald Trump.
Shortly before the release of the special adviser’s report, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed Biden’s gaffes during the daily press briefing. Jean-Pierre said that the errors are “ common » for most public figures, including those younger than Joe Biden.