Top Republicans hammered President Joe Biden on Thursday after special counsel Robert Hur released his long awaited report on the findings from his criminal investigation into Biden’s handling of classified material.
The report said that even though Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen,” prosecutors concluded that “no criminal charges are warranted in this matter.”
There were a variety of reasons why prosecutors declined to prosecute Biden, but arguably the top reason was Biden’s mental fitness, or lack thereof.
“Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017 [with whom he shared classified materials], and in his interview with our office in 2023,” the report said in its executive summary. “We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
Prosecutors said that based on the way that Biden presents, jurors will “want to identify reasonable doubt” and that it would be “difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him — by then a former president well into his eighties — of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.”
The report sparked strong reactions from Republicans, many of whom called on him to resign, saying that he was not fit for office.
“THIS HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE A TWO-TIERED SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL SELECTIVE PROSECUTION!” said former President Donald Trump. “The Biden Documents Case is 100 times different and more severe than mine. I did nothing wrong, and I cooperated far more.”
“What Biden did is outrageously criminal – He had 50 years of documents, 50 times more than I had, and ‘WILLFULLY RETAINED’ them,” Trump continued. “I was covered by the Presidential Records Act, Secret Service was always around, and GSA delivered the documents. Deranged Jack Smith should drop this Case immediately. ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) released a joint statement with House Majority Leader Tom Emmer (R-MN), House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
“The Special Counsel’s finding that President Biden ‘willfully retained and disclosed classified materials’ and engaged in practices that ‘present serious risks to national security’ is deeply disturbing,” the statement said. “Not only does it demonstrate the President’s recklessness, but exposes a two-tiered system of justice that is indicting one President with politically motivated charges while carrying water for another amid similar allegations.”
“Among the most disturbing parts of this report is the Special Counsel’s justification for not recommending charges: namely that the President’s memory had such ‘significant limitations’ that he could not convince a jury that the President held a ‘mental state of willfulness’ that a serious felony requires,” the statement continued. “A man too incapable of being held accountable for mishandling classified information is certainly unfit for the Oval Office.”
Biden subsequently held an impromptu press conference where he exploded at the media for asking him about his mental health, declared he was the most qualified person in America to be president, and made multiple mental mistakes — including confusing world leaders and forgetting details about a variety of issues.
Numerous other top Republicans in Washington, D.C., weighed in on the report and Biden’s disastrous press conference, including:
The President’s press conference this evening further confirmed on live television what the Special Counsel report outlined.
He is not fit to be President.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 9, 2024
That was a shameful performance by a President who couldn’t tell the truth and obviously has diminished mental capacity.
A sad day for America.
— Rep. Richard Hudson (@RepRichHudson) February 9, 2024
After the Special Councel report findings, President Biden needs to withdraw from the Presidential race. Respectfully, President Biden and his family need to focus on his health instead of a Presidential race.
— Larry Bucshon, MD (@RepLarryBucshon) February 9, 2024
President Biden’s angry response to the Special Councel report in his speech today is typical of a person who has some level of impairment when their mental acuity is challenged. I have been through this with my mother. A difficult situation for the President and his family.
— Larry Bucshon, MD (@RepLarryBucshon) February 9, 2024
How can the American people believe their President is fit for the White House when his own poor memory was a reason the DOJ chose not to prosecute him? pic.twitter.com/iSKpU4mf0u
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) February 9, 2024
Rushing an unwell leader in front of national TV only to ironically prove he is unwell feels like the opening scene of a B movie thriller.
But if we wake up tomorrow and everyone acts like this didn’t happen, it’s definitely a dystopian novel.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 9, 2024
The DOJ won’t prosecute because they are worried that a jury will expose Biden for what he is…suffering some cognitive issue that is at this point, dangerous. For safety and national security reasons…how is he fit to be president?
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 9, 2024
If he’s unfit to be prosecuted, he’s unfit to be President of the United States.
— Michael McCaul (@RepMcCaul) February 9, 2024
It is sad that it got to this point, but America desperately needs capable leadership in the White House.
The safety of our country is at stake.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) February 9, 2024
The DOJ Special Counsel confirmed what we knew all along: President Biden’s lack of mental acuity is a threat to national security.
The full transcript must be released immediately. This cannot be swept under the rug!
— Virginia Foxx (@virginiafoxx) February 9, 2024
DOJ says it won’t charge @POTUS because of his mental state.
He attempted to defend himself while misspeaking at a press conference multiple times.
Considering the many crises our country has been thrust into and his own DOJ discrediting his mental state, how is Joe Biden fit…
— Congressman Morgan Luttrell (@RepLuttrell) February 9, 2024
President Biden referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the “president of Mexico…”
But his memory is fine… he’s fine. pic.twitter.com/l1iHAx0Gth
— Dr. Neal Dunn (@DrNealDunnFL2) February 9, 2024
In defending his mental sharpness, Biden just mixed up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt.
This train wreck of a press conference confirms the need for the 25th Amendment. https://t.co/TzF4cc8nfe
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 9, 2024
A President with diminished mental capacity is a serious, alarming situation. We're long past the point where this can be blissfully ignored.
— Rep. Ralph Norman (@RepRalphNorman) February 9, 2024
Truly astonishing.
The US Department of Justice formally laying out evidence that the sitting President of the United States IS NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.
He cannot remember when he was Vice President, but this man has the nuclear codes…. pic.twitter.com/GpJ6H9jtfw
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 8, 2024
Biden is saying he had “no idea” how the boxes of classified documents “appeared” in his home until his staff told him.
Says the man who can’t remember when he was Vice President. Don’t worry though—@POTUS assured us his memory is “fine.”
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) February 9, 2024
Either @JoeBiden is not mentally fit to serve as POTUS, or his DOJ is engaging in clearly politically biased prosecutions, or both. He should step aside!
— Congresswoman Erin Houchin (@RepHouchin) February 9, 2024
We now have a second opinion. Special Counsel Hur’s report confirms what we’ve been saying all along: Joe Biden is incapable of leading our country.
— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) February 9, 2024
Not mentally fit. pic.twitter.com/oMqNm2kqvA
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) February 9, 2024
For the record, El-Sisi is not Mexican.
Pass it on.— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) February 9, 2024
Democrat-appointed special counsel found Biden willfully retained classified documents, but decided Biden should not be prosecuted. If Biden does not have the mental ability to stand trial, he clearly does not have the mental capacity to be our commander in chief.
— Congressman Michael Guest (@RepMichaelGuest) February 8, 2024
I believe all Americans should be concerned by the DOJ’s special counsel finding that President Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials…when he was a private citizen.” Furthermore, to support his conclusion that jurors would be unlikely to convict Biden due…
— Rep. Ken Calvert (@KenCalvert) February 8, 2024
The Special Counsel’s report on President Biden is staggering. Not only did it disclose reckless conduct with our nation’s secrets, but it further illustrates the two-tiered justice system. The fact that President Trump was raided and prosecuted and President Biden avoids charges…
— Senator Ted Budd (@SenTedBuddNC) February 8, 2024
If President Biden does not hold the mental state that a serious felony requires, he should no longer be president.
— Rep. Tim Walberg (@RepWalberg) February 8, 2024
Joe Biden is not mentally competent to serve.
Special Counsel Hur's report should concern everyone–even every Democrat! pic.twitter.com/OZUC7zIej1
— Rep. Pat Fallon (@RepPatFallon) February 8, 2024
Special Counsel just reported that Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials” and engaged in practices that “present serious risks to national security.”
Even more disturbing: Biden would lack a “mental state of willfulness” necessary to prosecute! pic.twitter.com/v9fKoKH17I
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 8, 2024
If Joe Biden is not competent to stand trial, then he is certainly not competent to lead the free world.
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) February 8, 2024
The description offered by Special Counsel Hur regarding President Biden’s condition will be seen, around the world, as unnerving.
I have known President Biden for decades, traveled the world with him and consider him a friend.
The Special Counsel’s assessment of President…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 8, 2024
Never been a stronger case for the 25th amendment than right now.
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) February 8, 2024
Joe Biden is unfit to be President of the United States.
He can’t even remember his time as Vice President and his own DOJ describes him as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
And the Left wants him to be President for four more years? pic.twitter.com/ySOS9Zgdip
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) February 8, 2024
For the safety of our nation, Joe Biden must resign. He could not remember basic facts about his life. He is not competent to remain as Commander-in-Chief & every day that he remains, he puts America at risk. If he won't resign, the Cabinet must invoke the 25th Amendment. pic.twitter.com/ZN7bJM5uZk
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 8, 2024
The special counsel’s report describes Joe Biden—our Commander-in-Chief—as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
Unfit for office is an understatement.
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) February 8, 2024
Joe Biden lacks the mental fitness to be President of the United States.
He doesn’t know when he was Vice President.
He has no idea about key events in his personal life.
And he has access to our nuclear codes?
Biden must resign.
— Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) February 8, 2024
This report labels Biden as a “well meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
That does not describe someone who should be the Commander in Chief of our armed forces and the defender of American freedoms. It’s time for his cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment. https://t.co/zFFTWnDAtI
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 8, 2024
Can’t remember his time as VP, but fit to serve as Commander-in-Chief? https://t.co/9JtN5lVTjr
— Rep. Wesley Hunt Press Office (@RepWPH) February 8, 2024
🚨STATEMENT🚨
Joe Biden willfully retained classified docs for years in unsecure locations & intentionally disclosed them yet faces no consequences for his actions.
Americans expect equal justice under the law & are dismayed the DOJ continues to allow @POTUS to live above it.👇 pic.twitter.com/G64sNWQN8x
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) February 8, 2024
The special counsel decided not to bring charges against Biden because they believe he has age related dementia https://t.co/HNpPzJeV0h
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 8, 2024
Trump's facing a 40-count indictment regarding classified info.
Biden was just cleared by his OWN DOJ despite finding he willfully retained classified info about:
▪️Military/Foreign Policy
▪️Nat'l Security
▪️Sensitive Intel Sources/MethodsThis is TWO-TIERED JUSTICE in action. pic.twitter.com/mq5Pa2jEsR
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) February 8, 2024