Both Parties Object to Work of Biden Case Special Counsel

GOP says there's a double standard, highlights Hur's assessment of Biden's memory
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 8, 2024 7:20 PM CST
Republicans, Democrats Argue With Biden Special Counsel
President Biden speaks Thursday to the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference in Leesburg, Virginia.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Republicans objected Thursday to the special counsel's decision not to charge President Biden over his handling of classified documents, while Democrats wondered who asked for Robert Hur's opinion of the president's mental capabilities. And Nikki Haley jumped on the chance to criticize both parties' leading candidates. Reaction involved:

  • The outcome: The decision to not charge Biden shows political bias against Republicans and Donald Trump, their probable presidential nominee, GOP members of Congress said, per CNN. The report "confirms that Biden 'willfully retained and disclosed classified materials' for years before he entered the White House," said Sen. Markwayne Mullin. "Meanwhile, Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was raided by the FBI and he's facing a weaponized DOJ. A clear two-tiered system of justice."
  • Donald Trump: The former president called the report evidence of "a two-tiered system of justice and unconstitutional selective prosecution," per the New York Times.
  • Democrats defending: Members of the president's party defended Biden's mental abilities in light of the special counsel's reference to Biden coming across as "a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory." Rep. Dan Goldman said those comments were "completely extraneous." When speaking with the president on Oct. 7 about Hamas' attack on Israel, Goldman said, Biden "was sharper than anyone I've spoken to about a very complex geopolitical, urgent issue."
  • Republicans attacking: Sen. Rick Scott called for Biden to be removed from the presidency via the 25th Amendment, given Hur's comments. Sen. Tommy Tuberville posted: "According to this investigation, @JoeBiden doesn't remember being VP. Does anyone believe he's running the country now?"
  • Nikki Haley: "Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump were reckless with classified documents," the GOP presidential candidate wrote. "If Biden's defense is old age and forgetfulness Trump can easily make the same claim."
(More President Biden stories.)

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