Report Subverts Biden’s Attack Line Against Special Counsel Hur

A news report published on Wednesday undercuts President Joe Biden‘s criticism of special counsel Robert Hur over an investigation into the commander-in-chief’s handling of classified documents.

Hur’s report, which was released last week, said Biden “did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died” while speaking with investigators during an interview for the probe in October.

In a press conference that followed the report’s unveiling, Biden told reporters, “How in the hell dare he raise that. Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself it wasn’t any of their damn business.”

"How in the hell dare he raise that."

President Biden slams Special Counsel Robert Hur's claim that he struggled to remember details about his son Beau's death. pic.twitter.com/2d4sAlRuDC

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 9, 2024

But sources told NBC News that Hur did not ask Biden about Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, but rather the president brought up his son’s passing. The insiders added that Biden got the day and month correct, but not the year of Beau’s death. The younger Biden died on May 30, 2015, at the age of 46.

Hur’s report said investigators “uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen.”

The special counsel did not recommend charges, but his 388-page report said Biden exhibited memory problems that likely would preclude a jury from convicting the president.

People close to Biden used the mention of Beau’s death in Hur’s report to take swipes at the special counsel’s investigation, which came to a close as the president seeks re-election.

First lady Jill Biden sent out an email to campaign donors saying, “I can’t imagine someone would try to use our son’s death to score political points.”

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) told ABC News that “the idea that somehow Joe Biden forgot the date of his son’s death is offensive and appalling.”

House Republicans, who are leading an impeachment inquiry against Biden, have demanded the Department of Justice produce materials from Hur’s investigation, including transcripts and recordings from the interview with the president.

The GOP lawmakers set a deadline of 5 p.m. on February 19, 2024, and warned that committees are “prepared to compel the production of this material if necessary” given the “seriousness of these matters.”

Hur may also testify before Congress in the coming weeks.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred journalists this week to the White House counsel when asked about releasing the transcript of Biden’s interview with Hur.