Special counsel Robert K. Hur testified Tuesday that President Biden revealed classified documents about the War in Afghanistan to his ghostwriter in February 2017 and “read classified information out loud” to him.
The author did not hold a security clearance.
The testimony undermines Mr. Biden’s argument that he did not willfully take or share classified information.
Mr. Hur, appearing before the House Judiciary Committee in his first public appearance about his probe into Mr. Biden’s possession of classified government documents, said the conversations were captured on audio recordings.
“I just found all the classified documents downstairs,” the president said on the audio recordings, according to Mr. Hur.
Mr. Biden, who had just left the vice presidency, was speaking to ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer who helped Mr. Biden author two memoirs, 2007’s “Promises to Keep” and 2017’s “Promise Me, Dad.”
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Mr. Hur was questioned Tuesday by lawmakers on the panel about his decision not to charge Mr. Biden for taking classified documents and storing them at his home and office. Some were left in a pile in his garage.
Mr. Hur said the actions did not rise to the level that would justify criminal charges and Mr. Biden’s failing memory was at the center of his decision not to charge him.
Mr. Biden frequently told Mr. Hur during questioning on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 that he did not recall or did not remember taking or holding on to classified documents.
“The evidence, and the president himself, put his memory squarely at issue,” Mr. Hur told lawmakers. “My assessment in the report about the relevance of the President’s memory was necessary and accurate and fair.”
Mr. Hur said despite the audio recordings, Mr. Biden, “didn’t remember saying that to his ghostwriter” and did not remember ever finding classified information in his home after he left the Obama White House.
“And he didn’t remember anything about how classified documents about Afghanistan made their way into his garage,” he said.
Mr. Biden has pushed back on Mr. Hur’s comments about his failing memory.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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