Former President Biden has found a way to step back into the limelight after more than 100 days since President Trump reclaimed the White House.
Axios has obtained audio from an interview with special advisor Robert Hur, conducted in October 2023, where they discussed sensitive documents discovered at Biden’s home during his vice presidency. This was shared by the outlet on Saturday, with shorter clips released late Friday.
The five-hour interview seems to show Biden facing challenges right from the outset of Hur’s questioning.
Although the Justice Department provided a transcript of the dialogue last year, the Biden administration has pushed for the release of the tape due to concerns over potential tampering and “deepfakes.”
Hur suggested that Biden might have “deliberately” retained the documents, yet the overall impression left was that he seemed like a sympathetic and well-meaning older individual. No charges were brought.
Here’s what’s notable about the leaked audio:
Issues with Memory and Focus
During the interview, there were moments when Biden needed to pause, clearly struggling to articulate his thoughts. The audio reveals how he dealt with timelines and his own recollections.
One especially striking moment showed him unable to recall the year of his son Beau’s passing from a brain tumor.
When asked about where he stored classified documents at his residence, he hesitated, saying, “Well, um… I don’t know. Was that 2017, 2018?” He quickly shifted topics to explain his decision not to run against Trump in 2016, mentioning former President Obama’s support for Hillary Clinton.
Later on, he remarked, “I wasn’t leaving the idea that I might be reinstated. But if I ran again, it would be for the presidency. And then what happened—did I die? Ah, God, May 30th.”
His aides reminded him that Beau died in 2015.
Biden has also seemed confused about the year Trump won the election. “And during that time, Trump was elected in November 2017,” he noted, before correcting himself to “16. 2016. So, why am I here in 2017?”
He appeared to mix up dates repeatedly. “Yeah, yeah, and in 2017, Bo passed away. It’s personal—it’s the title of my book, ‘Promise Me, Dad.’ He was like my right arm,” he added.
After carrying on, Hur asked if Biden wanted to pause the audio for a break.
When the transcript was released in March, the former president rebuffed claims that he’d forgotten about Beau’s death.
Details on Classified Documents
Biden also struggled when explaining why certain classified documents remained in his possession after leaving the White House in 2017.
Some documents were found in an office he had used during his vice presidency, leading to a search of his home, where authorities collected around 90 items, including handwritten notes on national security.
During the interview, he admitted to wanting to keep specific documents related to Afghanistan’s foreign policy “for future generations.”
Initially, he claimed he didn’t know why he had the documents and remarked, “I wouldn’t have thought about it… it’s not something I would’ve stopped thinking about,” he said. “I think I wanted to keep it just for future generations. I mean, this was my position on Afghanistan.”
This reversal frustrated his lawyer, who wanted to steer clear of speculative questions that could lead to accusations. As a result, his lawyer requested a break.
Fully Engaged in Conversation
Even amid difficulties with memory and the need for assistance on some details, the audio indicates that Biden remained engaged with Hur during the discussion.
As pointed out by Axios, he made several jokes and reminisced like a nostalgic grandfather. He reminisced about a ride in a Corvette with comedian Jay Leno, sharing memories from his home. He also discussed the impact of Gutenberg’s printing press and commented on former President Nixon’s sweating during his noted 1960 debate with John F. Kennedy.
His lawyers were involved mainly to manage the conversation, particularly when prosecutors suggested that Biden might be attempting to shape their questioning.
Previous Responses
Trump addressed reporters on Friday, stating that Attorney General Pam Bondy would decide whether to release the audio officially.
Following Axios’ report, Biden’s critics, including Trump, have intensified their attacks on his age and mental acuity, mentioning concerns about his use of an autopen at the end of his term.
Chairman of the House Observation Committee, James Komer (R-KY), announced plans to investigate what he termed a “cover-up” regarding Biden’s cognitive condition, stating he would like to question a former White House aide.
Trump criticized Biden further, labeling the interview a “scandal” while reiterating past claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
He added, “Everyone who has controlled the ‘autopen’ wants to be connected to a growing scandal,” referring to Biden as “slow, sleepy Joe Biden.”
Trump concluded, “The battle has just begun!!!”
This comes amid growing frustration among many Democrats regarding Biden’s future as some hold him responsible for anticipated losses in the 2024 election. Several recent books also highlight Biden’s decline, including “The Original Sin” and “The Battle.”
The release of the audio follows Biden’s first public comments since Trump took office, which included interviews with both the BBC and ABC’s “The View.” This has further driven frustration among Democrats.
