‘HIGHLY CLASSIFIED’: New Details Revealed From Biden’s Classified Documents Report

The Biden classified documents case, initiated over a year ago, continues to resonate through the corridors of power in Washington. The final report by Special Counsel Robert Hur, released in early February, was recently reviewed by Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL), who painted a complex picture of highly classified materials found at President Joe Biden’s residence.

In early 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur to investigate the circumstances under which classified documents ended up in Biden’s Delaware home and his former office. The investigation concluded without charges but raised significant concerns about Biden’s memory and potential risks to national security.

“Highly classified and relevant to current national security threats,” Rep. Waltz described the documents on X, signaling ongoing worries among lawmakers. He called for an “immediate damage assessment from the Intelligence Community,” on Wednesday.

I just reviewed a portion of Biden’s classified documents that were taken from his basement by Special Counsel Hur.

They were HIGHLY CLASSIFIED and relevant to current national security threats.

We need an immediate damage assessment from the Intelligence Community.

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) April 17, 2024

Hur’s report, although clearing Biden of willful misconduct, highlighted several troubling aspects of the President’s handling of sensitive information. It noted Biden’s frequent memory lapses; he could not recall important dates or details about his tenure as Vice President or even significant personal events like the date of his son’s death.

“Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited… his cooperation with our investigation…will likely convince some jurors that he made an innocent mistake,” the report stated, hinting at the possibility that these were not deliberate acts.

However, the document also acknowledged that Biden’s actions, while possibly not criminal, could still have legal implications. The Special Counsel considered his advanced age and cognitive challenges as factors that could influence a jury’s decision in a hypothetical trial. “It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him…of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness,” the report speculated.

Experts interviewed expressed diverse opinions on the implications of these findings. Others, however, believe it casts a shadow over his fitness to hold office, given the serious nature of the allegations and his pivotal role in national security. The report detailed Biden’s struggles during interviews with Special Counsel investigators, where he frequently forgot critical details and timelines. This included forgetting the specifics of discussions during his vice presidency and significant policy debates such as those about Afghanistan.

Adding to the case, testimonies from other witnesses, such as FBI agents, indicated ambiguous recollections about how the documents were stored and accessed, suggesting systemic issues with memory and record-keeping among Biden’s team.

“In his interview with our office, Mr. Biden’s memory was worse. He did not remember when he was vice president…and his memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate,” the report added. As a result, since February Biden has lost a favorable lead in the polls to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump and recent polling data reveals a tight race.

Trump and Biden are closely matched in their 2024 matchup, according to an average of polls by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. The two are tied at 45.1% based on 658 polls. Trump’s narrow lead has been diminishing, with only a 0.6 percentage point advantage as of Tuesday.

A New York Times/Siena College poll indicates Trump is leading by just one point, while an ActiVote poll shows him ahead by six points, and an Ipsos poll puts Biden in front by four points.