In a recent revelation, snippets from a 2023 interview with former President Joe Biden have been published by Axios, highlighting concerns regarding Biden's cognitive state. The interview, conducted by Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur, has led to a description of Biden as an "elderly man with a poor memory." This characterization has raised eyebrows, especially given the audio's content, which showcases Biden's halting speech and issues with recalling significant dates.
The audio obtained by Axios matches the transcript previously released by the Biden White House in 2024, confirming the context of Biden's responses. During a four-minute segment, Biden was questioned about the location of his classified documents shortly after serving as vice president. Listeners can hear Biden's voice falter, accompanied by noticeable pauses, particularly when he discusses the passing of his son, Beau Biden.
Throughout the audio, Biden struggles to recall specific years, such as when Beau died or the election year of President Trump. His staff members can be heard providing gentle corrections, indicating a reliance on external prompts to assist with his memory. While a written transcript of the five-hour interview was made available last year, the recent audio offers a more vivid understanding of Biden's demeanor during this crucial session.
In response to the audio release, Biden spokesperson Kelly Scully emphasized that the transcripts had been public for over a year and asserted that the audio merely reinforces existing information. Hur's report, released in February 2024, suggested that Biden's verbal delivery painted him as a sympathetic figure, which could influence jurors' perspectives regarding Biden's handling of sensitive documents.
Hur acknowledged significant gaps in Biden's memory, specifically relating to personal events such as his son's death, and ultimately recommended against pursuing charges against the former president. Despite this, Biden's team expressed outrage at Hur's portrayal. Biden himself stated, "How in the hell dare he raise that?" referring to Hur's comments about his memory.
The report incited a fierce reaction from Biden and his allies, who criticized Hur's comments as inflammatory and inappropriate. The Biden White House counsel's office formally requested a revision of the report due to its derogatory implications about Biden's cognitive abilities. This controversy unfolded amid growing concerns about Biden's age and fitness to continue in the presidential race, with Democratic officials publicly supporting him while Republican opponents seized on the report as evidence of cognitive decline.
At the time of Hur's interview, Biden was 80 years old, and in the months that followed, his performance during a debate against Trump further fueled apprehensions about his mental acuity. Biden's difficulties in articulating his thoughts led to increased scrutiny, ultimately culminating in his decision to withdraw from the race, paving the way for Kamala Harris to become the eventual nominee.
As new books detailing Biden's campaign experiences emerge, they provide further insight into his struggles with age and the efforts by his aides to navigate the challenges of maintaining his candidacy. These publications have sparked renewed discussions about Biden's cognitive health and the implications for his political future, especially as the 2024 election approaches.
