President’s Attorneys Complain About Report Language
The Justice Department has rejected attempts by attorneys representing President Joe Biden to remove language critical of his age and memory from a report authored by special counsel Robert Hur. Sources have confirmed that a series of correspondence between the President’s legal team and the Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted disagreements over the report’s content.
Details of the Dispute:
Attorneys Ed Siskel and Bob Bauer, representing President Biden, raised concerns about the report’s portrayal of the President’s recollections during an interview with investigators. The attorneys argued that the language used in the report violated department policy and practice.
Justice Department Stance:
In response, senior Justice Department official Bradley Weinsheimer defended the inclusion of the contentious language in the report. He emphasized that the language was essential to explain Special Counsel Hur’s conclusions regarding the President’s state of mind concerning classified information.
Report Findings:
Despite painting a picture of the President as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” the special counsel’s report ultimately concluded that no criminal charges were warranted against President Biden. The report highlighted instances where the President retained and disclosed classified information after his vice presidency.
Political Fallout:
Critics of President Biden seized on the report’s findings to question his fitness for office. The report’s release coincided with public opinion, as a recent poll showed that Americans overwhelmingly consider Biden too old for another term.
President’s Response:
President Biden himself pushed back against the report’s details, affirming his competence during a press briefing at the White House. He expressed confidence in his abilities, despite the report’s implications.
Congressional Testimony:
Special Counsel Hur is set to testify before Congress on March 12, following requests from House Republicans for more information related to the probe. This development comes after a series of back-and-forth exchanges between the President’s legal team and the Justice Department.
