New Delhi: The White House found itself facing a political challenge when a special counsel report raised questions about President Joe Biden's memory last month. However, for Biden, it was more than just a political problem; it was a deeply personal affront.
Robert Hur, appointed to investigate whether Biden mishandled classified documents, stated in his report that the president couldn't recall the date of his adult son Beau's death during an interview with prosecutors. This was a startling claim about a pivotal event in Biden's life, adding to concerns about his fitness for another term as the 81-year-old president, reported news agency Associated Press.
Biden's response was swift and impassioned. He expressed his anger during a press conference following the report's release, questioning how Hur dared to raise such a sensitive issue.
“How in the hell dare he raise that?” Biden said angrily. “Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself it wasn’t any of their damn business.”
However, the reality of the situation is more nuanced than either Biden or Hur initially portrayed. A transcript of the interview, released before Hur's testimony on Capitol Hill, revealed that Hur did not directly ask Biden about his son's death. Instead, Biden himself brought it up while discussing the storage of documents at a rental home in Virginia after leaving the vice president's office, as per the AP report.
Moreover, Biden did recall the specific date of Beau's death during the interview, albeit with a momentary uncertainty about the year. His exchange with Hur demonstrated how he reflected on the impact of his son's death on his decision-making over the years.
“What month did Beau die?” Biden mused. “Oh, God, May 30th.”
A White House lawyer interjected by saying, “2015.”
“Was it 2015 he had died?” Biden asked. When someone responded affirmatively, the president added, “I
was 2015.”
Biden's aides defended his emotional response during the press conference, attributing it to the visceral nature of his emotions. They emphasized that his discussion with Hur underscored the significance of Beau's death in shaping his actions, the AP report added.
The transcript offers new insights into one of the most sensitive episodes of Biden's presidency. While the special counsel's investigation did not result in criminal charges against Biden, the scrutiny over his memory raised doubts about his ability to continue serving effectively as president.
Beau was Delaware’s attorney general when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Beau's passing occurred during Biden's tenure as vice president. The profound grief Biden experienced played a significant role in his decision not to run for president in 2016, a race ultimately won by Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, reported AP.