Special counsel: Biden 'willfully' disclosed classified materials, but no criminal charges warranted

What Trump can learn here is you do have to take the FBI's calls.

No charges.

Biden cooperated fully.

And no charges.

The rest is conjecture.

So, the only takeaway from this investigation is that Biden is not competent to stand trial for willful gross mishandling of classified material, yet is still competent to remain POTUS? The only good news is that Biden REALLY IS more competent than Harris, so no one, Republican or Democrat, is going to bring up the 25th Amendment in Congress when the report is presented to the House.

So, the only takeaway from this investigation is that Biden is not competent to stand trial for willful gross mishandling of classified material

You believe in complete Presidential immunity. So you’re arguing with yourself.

You believe in complete Presidential immunity. So you’re arguing with yourself.

Making an accurate statement is not an argument.

Making an accurate statement is not an argument.

Please go ahead and make an accurate statement. We can take it from there.

The report is available, with photos, at https://www.justice.gov/storage/report-from-special-counsel-robert-k-hur-february-2024.pdf. A 388 page PDF. Quite a few redactions, plus the quality of the pics (and the report itself) isn’t all that great (wonder why), so good luck reading what’s in most of the pictures. With thanks to the Washington Examiner and their article on this at https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/2845741/mangled-box-in-biden-garage-held-classified-documents/ .

bass4funk

So, the only takeaway from this investigation is that Biden is not competent to stand trial

Biden's competency has not been questioned. Of course he is competent.

Biden's competency has not been questioned. Of course he is competent.

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

No charges but Trump MAGA supporters believe the president is immune to charges.

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

I did, and I noticed how the special counsel clearly explains the differences between his investigation and the charges of Donald J Trump.

bass4funk

Biden's competency has not been questioned. Of course he is competent.

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

It's not scathing and I did listen properly.

“Given Mr. Biden’s limited precision and recall during his interviews with his ghostwriter and with our office, jurors may hesitate to place too much evidentiary weight on a single eight-word utterance to his ghostwriter about finding classified documents in Virginia, in the absence of other, more direct evidence.”

Nothing about not being competent to sit trial.

(And how many times did we here "I don't recall" in the Jan 6 hearings.)

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

Scathing report? Didn't see;

Failure to comply with a subpoena even when his lawyer told him that would be illegal...

Claiming that he declassified it all (by thinking about it) then being caught on tape admitting it was still classified...

Directing his aides to re-hide the remaining classified that was required to be turned in under court order, then also directing them to destroy the evidence of them doing that...

Jonathon Turley said Trump's classified indictment and charges are "damning" and and Bill Barr said he's "toast"...

Better to admit it now versus melting down when he's sentenced...to jail...

Cards fan

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

I did, and I noticed how the special counsel clearly explains the differences between his investigation and the charges of Donald J Trump.

Well the problem with Trump is that the refused to give back the documents and then tried to hide then and say that he doesn't have any more documents.

https://x.com/vdhanson/status/1755738800029040748?s=46&t=YGWP_lcRZjddiWlx4QxURQ

Biden's competency has not been questioned. Of course he is competent.

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

It's not scathing and I did listen properly.

I don’t think so.

“Given Mr. Biden’s limited precision and recall during his interviews with his ghostwriter and with our office,

Well, there you go.

Nothing about not being competent to sit trial.

The report says different.

(And how many times did we here "I don't recall" in the Jan 6 hearings.)

He didn’t even remember when his own son died and when he was VP and when he wasn’t. Damning is an understatement.

No charges but Trump MAGA supporters believe the president is immune to charges.

The left feel the same about Biden.

bass4funk

Then you didn’t listen and read the scathing report properly.

It's not scathing and I did listen properly.

I don’t think so.

I do.

“Given Mr. Biden’s limited precision and recall during his interviews with his ghostwriter and with our office,

Well, there you go.

Yeah. Like anybody else, they don't have exact recall of things that happened years ago. Not a competence issue.

He had boxes and boxes of secret documents in his garage for decades next to his 67 C2 Corvette Stingray 327 convertible with 4 on the floor. And in a house which Hunter had a key to.

That makes it ok then. Snow job. Nothing to see here: move along.

bass4funk

Nothing about not being competent to sit trial.

The report says different.

No it doesn't.

JJE

He had boxes and boxes of secret documents in his garage for decades next to his 67 C2 Corvette Stingray 327 convertible with 4 on the floor. And in a house which Hunter had a key to.

That makes it ok then. Snow job. Nothing to see here: move along.

As the report says. His lawyers found the documents and gave them back. If Trump did the same he would be in the hot water that he is in now. Trump really is, his own worse enemy.

*wouldn't be

Well let's summarize....one President had sensitive documents secured and it's questionable if he had a right to have them and the government is all in to prosecute to the fullest extent they can. Another President had sensitive documents sitting in his garage, totally unsecured and the Justice department is declining to prosecute because of his memory issues? Yeah...that sounds like our current government.

Two tiers of justice, American's aren't buying it, especially since Biden's illegal document handling took place over so many years.

Biden diminished mental fitness and acuity outlined clearly in the report, hugely damaging politically as well.

No it doesn't.

Yes, it does.

I do.

Then you wouldn’t say what you said.

Yeah. Like anybody else, they don't have exact recall of things that happened years ago.

I do. I know when every single family member of mine passed away.

Not a competence issue

Yes, it is otherwise all of the headlines wouldn’t say it is, you can say what you want, you can’t change what is written when I check online or go into the store.

Well let's summarize....one President had sensitive documents secured and it's questionable if he had a right to have them

Let’s clear this little misunderstanding up first before you go on. It had been documented and established that multiple documents were not secured and that he did not have the right to have them. Which is why they were asked to be returned.

As has been explained several times every time this story comes up, 45 clearly lied about having documents and didn’t cooperate. Biden cooperated and returned the documents.

That is the crux of the matter, which you willfully choose to ignore each time it is mentioned

In other words, people who work for Biden are exonerating Biden even though he clearly broke the law.

Biden's America bears striking resemblance to a banana republic.

MAGA just can't score a win. Impeachment charges were thrown out this week.

wallace Today  09:09 am JST

MAGA just can't score a win. Impeachment charges were thrown out this week.

It's not about "scoring a win."

Maybe that's how you "progressives" think about these things. Maybe your side are champions of the idea of using laws not for the sake of justice -- but to "score wins" and punish your political opponents just because they disagree with you.

Well, don't project your propensity for doing that onto us.

Biden clearly had classified materials -- which as the then-VICE president he wasn't supposed to have at all! -- stored in a place where it was ILLEGAL to store them

And his OWN Justice Dept. just let him off the hook.

Contrast this with the FBI raid on Trump's home, and we objectively must come to a conclusion that you "progressives" would rather we not talk about. Namely, that the U.S. now has a two-tiered justice system by which Democrats exonerate themselves and with which they try to pummel their political opposition.

Not in the pursuit of true justice, of course -- but, in your words, to "score wins."

Let’s clear this little misunderstanding up first before you go on.

Go for it.

It had been documented and established that multiple documents were not secured and that he did not have the right to have them. Which is why they were asked to be returned. *

So an admission to his dementia NOW which is irrelevant to his lucidity THEN when he stole and illegally hide classified documents for 40 years. His answers seem a tad bit too suggestive of his mental deterioration, and would be sufficient to have him removed via 25th amendment. "willfully retained and disclosed" and it is interesting that shortly after the Mar a lago raid he has personal lawyers go to the unused unsecured office and voila they find classified material that he can conveniently cooperate with returning! And oopsie they will find many more stashes. Who ever thought he would be held accountable is naive, but there was always a glimmer of hope that the two teired justice would not rear it's ugly head. At least the entire world now knows how compromised our leadership is, and that is not a good thing.

As has been explained several times every time this story comes up,

Well, you keep making weak excusable points.

45 clearly lied about having documents and didn’t cooperate. Biden cooperated and returned the documents. 

Ok, one was President, the other VP and had zero rights or privileges access these documents: fact.

That is the crux of the matter, which you willfully choose to ignore each time it is mentioned

No, you’re just angry because Biden was caught, the report shows he’s mentally compromised and Trump now has fodder to go after him.

MAGA just can't score a win.

This report gave him one and the Colorado case as well. Not sure what you are talking about.

Impeachment charges were thrown out this week.

They will have the votes next time around

bass4funk

45 clearly lied about having documents and didn’t cooperate. Biden cooperated and returned the documents. 

Ok, one was President, the other VP and had zero rights or privileges access these documents: fact.

Trump was a citizen at the time he refused to hand them back, so that argument doesn't hold up.

bass4funk

No, you’re just angry because Biden was caught, the report shows he’s mentally compromised

It shows no such thing.

and Trump now has fodder to go after him.

With the current state of Trump's mental facilities, I don't think he would dare try.

No, you’re just angry because Biden was caught, the report shows he’s mentally compromised and Trump now has fodder to go after him.

I’m not angry. As I have said many many times go after Biden if you have something. You can’t have it both ways.

Trump was a citizen

He was a government official/employee without a clearance

at the time he refused to hand them back, so that argument doesn't hold up.

Actually and legally it does. And if Dems get their way with stripping Trump of Presidential immunity, they can always go back and charge Trump, so if the Dems really want to go down that rabbit hole, go for it.

Victim complex? Check

Revenge fantasy? Check

Conspiracy theories? Check

Yep, you’re ticking all the boxes.

I’m not angry.

That’s a relief.

As I have said many many times go after Biden if you have something.

That seems to be happening.

You can’t have it both ways.

Because you say so??? lol!

bass4funk

Trump was a citizen

He was a government official/employee without a clearance

Nope. A citizen.

at the time he refused to hand them back, so that argument doesn't hold up.

Actually and legally it does. And if Dems get their way with stripping Trump of Presidential immunity,

The Dems have nothing to do with it. The courts have determined that Presidential Immunity doesn't exist against committing crimes. And especially after office, when he is a citizen.

they can always go back and charge Trump,

Trump's already been charged.

so if the Dems really want to go down that rabbit hole, go for it.

The Dems aren't doing anything.

It shows no such thing.

Yes, if absolutely does, we can all read.

With the current state of Trump's mental facilities,

Yeah, even the Dems are leaving that one alone. Nothing, not a single AG stated that abut Trump.

45 clearly lied about having documents and didn’t cooperate. Biden cooperated and returned the documents. 

But he was VP, no VP has the clearance equal to the President to view these documents. Again, at a later date depending on what happens with the Trump immunity case, the Republicans can go back and charge Biden.

Trump was a citizen at the time he refused to hand them back, so that argument doesn't hold up

OK, you are all over the place again. So in the U.S., and in this case, both men had classified documents, both were wrong, either charge them the same or dismiss the case.

.

And his OWN Justice Dept. just let him off the hook.

Wrong again. Know the difference between the justice department and a special counsel.

Also, know the difference between having documents you weren't supposed to have, and taking steps to hide the fact you were in possession of documents you weren't supposed to have.

Nope. A citizen.

at the time he refused to hand them back, so that argument doesn't hold up.

Actually and legally it does. And if Dems get their way with stripping Trump of Presidential immunity, 

The Dems have nothing to do with it.

The Dems have everything to do with this., 

Trump's already been charged.

We know and the case is slowly unraveling

The Dems aren't doing anything.

Trump didn’t do anything either.

The MAGA boys are upset today.

Hardly.

bass4funk

The Dems have nothing to do with it.

The Dems have everything to do with this

Prove it.

But he was VP, no VP has the clearance equal to the President to view these documents. Again, at a later date depending on what happens with the Trump immunity case, the Republicans can go back and charge Biden.

This isn't true. Presidents and Vice Presidents don't need security clearance.

bass4funk

OK, you are all over the place again. So in the U.S., and in this case, both men had classified documents, both were wrong, either charge them the same or dismiss the case.

The difference being that Trump lied and said he didn’t have any more documents and tried to hide them. That’s difference.

Willfully disclosed- intentional and not a mistake.

when it’s time to be held accountable for the crime, poor Dementia ridden old man:

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," 

Then right after he escaped punishment, he’s great, 5 more years as president!

We do not believe that the report’s treatment of President Biden’s memory is accurate or appropriate," Sauber and Bauer wrote. "The report uses highly prejudicial language to describe a commonplace occurrence among witnesses: a lack of recall of years-old events."

ok then he did a crime and knew it and let’s proceed.

two tiered Justice.

Willfully disclosed- intentional and not a mistake.

lol We all know how much the right cares about the willfull retention of documents. reeee

That’s difference.

No difference under the law.

you either possess them or you don’t.

basically a Biden loving DOJ said we should have sympathy for a poor old dementia ridden fool who doesn’t know what he’s doing and can’t be expected to have a memory.

but vote for Joe in November, he was just distracted by the war in Israel ar the time, he remembers again now!

lol We all know how much the right cares about the willfull retention of documents. reeee

No criminal charges. That’s a poor precedent but hope it applies to Trump too.

two tiered Justice.

It’s ok. He can pardon himself anyway, right?

Maybe one of our MAGA-friends here can explain for us how....

It's not a crime when you fail to comply with a court-ordered subpoena to return all classified and unclassified documents, even when your own attorney tells you doing that is ILLEGAL...

It's not obstruction of justice when you re-hide classified information you were under court order to return, then DESTROY the evidence of that act caught on tape...

It's not self-incrimination when you stated previously that you declassified a warplan, then later are caught on tape openly bragging it's still CLASSIFIED...and showing that to people with no clearance...

No difference under the law.

That’s not true. Trump took concrete steps to hide the documents from investigators.

How can you honestly think what Biden did was not okay, but have no problem with what Trump did?

basically a Biden loving DOJ 

lol Again, it wasn't the DOJ. It was a special counsel.

In other words, people who work for Biden are exonerating Biden even though he clearly broke the law.

very simple analogy here, Quo Prinum. Biden and Trump both got caught speeding. Biden pulled over and cooperated. Trump floored it and led the cops on a high speed chase.

who is in more trouble?

Blacklabel

lol We all know how much the right cares about the willfull retention of documents. reeee

No criminal charges. That’s a poor precedent but hope it applies to Trump too.

Nope because Trump lied and said that he didn’t have any more documents and then tried to hide them.

He can pardon himself anyway, right?

He can. Make him! Don’t just make up some nonsense excuse to not prosecute him based on untrue personal characteristics such as “sympathetic” and “well intentioned”

who is in more trouble?

Biden is in NO trouble.

No criminal charges. That’s a poor precedent but hope it applies to Trump too.

lol Yes, a "poor precedent" that you hope applies to Trump, who actually took concrete steps to not turn over the documents he had ilegally. Thanks for proving my point for me.

Democrats really should find someone better than Biden to run this year. Not much time left. Republicans have an excuse for selecting their candidate (lack of capacity for independent thought), but Democrats should do better.

lol Again, it wasn't the DOJ. It was a special counsel.

a Trump appointee at that.

as in, Garland intentionally appointed a Trump guy to investigate Biden.

two tiered justice you say?

who actually took concrete steps to not turn over the documents he had ilegally. 

That makes no difference, you have them or you don’t.

next you will be saying Trump should be punished cause he is super smart and isn’t as old and decrepit as Biden and doesn’t have a poor memory.

Unless this old, decrepit, poor memory thing is the way/excuse to dump Biden cause he is losing to Trump, this is nonsense.

you can’t convict/jail Trump after this result would those lame excuses. He’s sympathetic!

Did you know, his son died in Iraq! He supposedly doesn’t remember, yet also talks about it all the time in irrelevant situations. The Israel war bothered his memory!

nonsense. Good luck running for president categorizes as an elderly man with poor memory in official documents.

That makes no difference, you have them or you don’t.

That makes sense according to whom? Someone with no legal background or the actual special counsel with an actual law degree?

Hiding and lying will always get you in way worse trouble. That's called obstruction of justice, that is one of the charges he's facing. It also suggests cognizance of criminal conduct.

next you will be saying Trump should be punished cause he is super smart 

Lol No, I'd never claim a blithering moron like Trump is "smart."

Biden is a hypocrite and a liar. If he has a poor memory, he has no business being president.

He can pardon himself anyway, right?

He can. Make him! Don’t just make up some nonsense excuse to not prosecute him based on untrue personal characteristics such as “sympathetic” and “well intentioned”

He shouldn’t. Why pardon himself if he hasn’t been charged with anything?

Can you pardon yourself if you are charged with a crime? No. Sounds like a two-tiered justice system to me.

Democrats really should find someone better than Biden to run this year.

agree emphatically. If Trump wins, it’s on the DNC, full stop.

there is no universe where Biden is the strongest candidate the Dems can come with.

If he has a poor memory, he has no business being president.

his lawyers immediately released a statement saying that not true and blaming….the Israel War?

ok if it’s not true then let’s prosecute. Cant have it both ways.

No charges but Trump MAGA supporters believe the president is immune to charges.

thats a great point, Wallace.

what are you MAGA boys complaining about? By your logic, Biden is immune.

Can you pardon yourself if you are charged with a crime? No.

sure you can. A perk of being “elected”.

You just have to deal with the political blowback if the people don’t agree you are pardoning yourself after unfair political attacks/biased judges against you.

So, Biden lied to the special prosecutor about his memory capacity and then went public with it making an obvious lame excuse.

Makes one wonder.

Willfully disclosed- intentional and not a mistake.

when it’s time to be held accountable for the crime, poor Dementia ridden old man:

so what, Blacklabel? He’s president. He’s immune. Right?

Y’all can’t argue two tiered justice without admitting that a president does not enjoy absolute immunity.

enjoy your win.

Where’d everybody go? Waiting to hear all about why Trump enjoys absolute immunity but Biden doesn’t!

lol Yes, a "poor precedent" that you hope applies to Trump, who actually took concrete steps to not turn over the documents he had ilegally. Thanks for proving my point for me.

Ok, so essentially the same thing, just more nutty left semantics.

Where’d everybody go? Waiting to hear all about why Trump enjoys absolute immunity but Biden doesn’t!

I believe in charging either both men or no charges should be filed, now if you want to go after Biden for having classified documents as a VP go for it.

so what, Blacklabel? He’s president. He’s immune. Right?

yes but they didn’t announce that he is immune though, why?

cause then Trump gets immunity too. So they made some nonsense excuses instead.

Ok, so essentially the same thing, just more nutty left semantics.

No, not semantics. There is a meaningful difference between having documents that should have been returned, and lying to the FBI about having the documents whilst taking concrete steps for investigators not to find the documents.

yes but they didn’t announce that he is immune though, why?

Because he doesn't have immunity, and neither does Trump.

So they made some nonsense excuses instead.

Projection.

What the dishonest people fail to realize is Biden was not President when he did all this.

so Presidential immunity in the performance of duties would apply to Trump but not to citizenJoe.

the Special Counsel said Joe doesn’t even remember being Vice President, btw.

What the dishonest people fail to realize is

Dishonest people? Lol hilarious projection from the right.

Biden was not President when he did all this.

Neither was Trump when he lied and hid the documents, yet you suggested somehow that Trump could get immunity.

It’s a god job that Biden isn’t Trump or he’d be in real trouble…. I’m

Biden's alibi was he was meeting with Helmut Kohl when the documents were placed in his garage. He has claimed to be meeting with deceased people twice this week.

What the dishonest people fail to realize is Biden was not President when he did all this. 

so Presidential immunity in the performance of duties would apply to Trump but not to citizenJoe.

so? He is now, and therefore enjoys absolute immunity, just like Trump claims to.

Trump was not president when he decided to defy the Feds, B. You know that.

Joe was VP when he did it. Trump was a private citizen when he decided the national archives had no authority to take his documents.

actually, the act of moving and hiding and generally obstructing leads one to the conclusion that he did acknowledge their authority but didn’t feel like complying. As in he gave the feds the middle finger while a private citizen.

ask Mr Snipes how well that works out.

anyway, the prez either has absolute immunity or the prez doesn’t.

you can’t have it both ways.

Note the word absolute in absolute presidential immunity.

Kurumazaka 2Today 11:57 am JST

so? He is now, and therefore enjoys absolute immunity, just like Trump claims to.

Trump was not president when he decided to defy the Feds, B. You know that.

Joe was VP when he did it. Trump was a private citizen when he decided the national archives had no authority to take his documents.

actually, the act of moving and hiding and generally obstructing leads one to the conclusion that he did acknowledge their authority but didn’t feel like complying. As in he gave the feds the middle finger while a private citizen.

This is what MAGAs don't understand: start sh*t, get hit.