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Report
Biden reacts angrily over special counsel claim he couldn’t remember when his son died: ‘How the hell dare he?’
The Independent
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2/9/2024
Biden delivers last-minute statement after release of special counsel reportReuters
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News
Transcript
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00:00
Let me say a few things before I take your questions.
00:05
As you know, the special counsel released his findings today about their look into my
00:10
handling of classified documents.
00:14
I was pleased to see he reached a firm conclusion that no charges should be brought against
00:20
me in this case.
00:22
This was an exhaustive investigation going back more than 40 years, even into the 1970s
00:29
when I was still a new United States senator.
00:32
The special counsel acknowledged I cooperated completely.
00:35
I did not throw up any roadblocks.
00:37
I sought no delays.
00:39
In fact, I was so determined to give the special counsel what he needed, I went forward with
00:43
a five-hour in-person interview over two days on October 8th and 9th of last year, even
00:51
though Israel had just been attacked by Hamas on the 7th and I was very occupied.
00:55
I was in the middle of handling an international crisis.
00:59
I was especially pleased to see special counsel make clear the stark distinction and difference
01:05
between this case and Mr. Trump's case.
01:09
Special counsel wrote, and I quote, "Several material distinctions between Mr. Trump's
01:13
case and Mr. Biden's are clear," continuing to quote, "Most notably, after giving multiple
01:18
chances to return classified documents to avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did
01:24
the opposite.
01:25
According to the indictment, he not only refused to return the documents for many months, he
01:30
also obstructed justice by enlisting others to destroy evidence and then to lie about
01:35
it.
01:36
In contrast, we want to say Mr. Biden turned in classified documents to the National Archives
01:42
and the Department of Justice, consented to the search of multiple locations, including
01:45
his home, sat for a voluntary interview, and in other ways cooperated with the investigation."
01:51
End of quote.
01:52
I've seen the headlines since the report was released about my willful retention of documents.
01:58
These assertions are not only misleading, they're just plain wrong.
02:03
On page 215, if you had a chance, I know it's a long -- it's a thick document.
02:07
On page 215, the report of the special counsel found the exact opposite.
02:11
Here's what he wrote.
02:13
There is in fact a shortage of evidence that I willfully retain classified materials related
02:18
to Afghanistan.
02:20
On page 12, the special counsel also wrote, "For in other documents, the decision to decline
02:26
criminal charges was straightforward.
02:28
The evidence suggests that Mr. Biden did not willfully retain these documents."
02:33
The evidence said I did not willfully retain these documents.
02:36
In addition, I know there's some attention paid to some language in the report about
02:41
my recollection of events.
02:43
There's even reference that I don't remember when my son died.
02:50
How in the hell dare he raise that?
02:52
Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, it wasn't any of their
02:56
damn business.
02:57
Let me tell you something.
02:58
Some of you have commented, I wear, since the day he died, every single day, the rosary
03:05
he got from Our Lady of --
03:11
Every Memorial Day, we hold a service remembering him, attending by friends and family and the
03:15
people who loved him.
03:17
I don't need anyone.
03:18
I don't need anyone to remind me when he passed away or passed away.
03:25
Simple truth is I sat for a five-hour interview over two days of events, going back 40 years.
03:30
At the same time I was managing an international crisis, their task was to make a decision
03:36
about whether to move forward with charges in this case.
03:39
That's their decision to make.
03:41
That's the council's decision to make.
03:43
That's his job.
03:44
And they decided not to move forward.
03:47
For any extraneous commentary, they don't know what they're talking about.
03:52
It has no place in this report.
03:54
The bottom line is the matter is now closed.
03:57
I'm going to continue what I've always focused on, my job of being President of the United
04:01
States of America.
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