Judicial Watch Lawsuit: Release of Biden Audio Tapes from Special Counsel Hur Interview

Biden Interview with Special Counsel Hur

• 🎙️ The interview with President Joseph Biden by Special Counsel Robert Hur took place on October 8th, 2023, with preliminary matters discussed before delving into the core questions.
• 🤝 Special Counsel Hur acknowledged President Biden's significant cooperation with the investigation, noting its helpfulness in achieving thoroughness and efficiency.
• 🗣️ The Special Counsel outlined procedures for the interview, including clarifying unclear questions and the option for breaks, emphasizing the importance of truthful and best-recollection answers.

Post-Vice Presidency Plans and Pursuits

• 🎓 Upon leaving the vice presidency in January 2017, Biden planned to become a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and continue work at the Biden School on Domestic Policy, aiming to stay engaged in public policy debate and teaching.
• ✍️ He also anticipated spending significant time writing his book, "Promise Me Dad," to document his son's life for his grandchildren and future generations.
• 🎗️ The Biden Cancer Initiative (Cancer Moonshot) was a high priority, leveraging Penn's medical school and cancer research facilities to foster collaboration and data sharing among cancer researchers.

Handling of Classified Information

• 🗂️ The interview focused on how classified information was handled during Biden's vice presidency, acknowledging that the President and Vice President have different handling rules than other government officials.
• 📄 Biden described receiving Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) binders which were typically classified, and how he would read them, take notes, and discuss findings with his national security team.
• 🔒 He recalled that if he needed to keep a PDB binder for an extra day, it would be locked up, and staff would know to hold onto it if it was placed next to his desk rather than on it.
• 🏠 Classified materials were sometimes brought to the Naval Observatory and the lake house, with staff generally responsible for collection and secure storage, though Biden could not recall specific details of where or how they were kept.
• ❌ Biden stated he never recalled staff looking for a missing binder he had, nor did he recall asking staff to hang onto classified material for extended periods without a clear process for its return or disposal.

Moving Out and Document Handling

• 📦 When vacating the West Wing office and the Naval Observatory, Biden indicated he left the packing and organization of materials to his staff, including executive secretaries and chiefs of staff, without direct involvement in deciding where items would go.
• 🏠 Similarly, at the lake house, he recalled bringing furniture and personal effects but not specifically directing the handling of papers or documents, relying on staff for organization and storage.
• 🚗 He did not recall specific instances of packing written material himself or directing staff on how to pack specific documents, especially concerning classified materials.

The "Promise Me Dad" Book and Decision to Run for President

• 💔 The book "Promise Me Dad" stemmed from a deeply personal conversation with his son Beau, who made him promise to stay engaged and not withdraw from public life.
• 🇺🇸 The decision to run for president was influenced by the events of Charlottesville and a desire to counter the divisiveness he perceived.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family support, particularly from his grandchildren, played a significant role in his decision to enter the presidential race.

Iran Nuclear Deal Discussions

• 🤝 Biden recalled engaging with senators regarding the Iran nuclear deal and additional sanctions, aiming to understand their perspectives and advocate for the administration's position.
• 🗣️ He acknowledged that while he did not have a definitive view on the deal himself, he was tasked with discussing the issue with members of Congress.
• 📁 Documents related to the Iran nuclear deal, including handwritten notes and typed memos, were found in a box at the Pen Biden Center, though Biden could not recall specifically how they ended up there or if he consciously kept them after his vice presidency.
• ⚠️ He clarified that any documents clearly marked as classified were returned or given to staff for return, distinguishing them from his personal notes or handwritten materials.