The White House Counsel's Office spokesperson, Ian Sams, addressed the findings of a 15-month investigation led by a Trump-appointed special counsel regarding allegations that President Biden willfully retained classified materials after his vice presidency. The investigation revealed evidence of recorded conversations where Biden mentioned classified documents but did not establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The report, spanning 400 pages, emphasized that the evidence did not fully support the claim of willful retention of classified documents. It also highlighted that there was no substantial evidence indicating Biden knowingly shared classified information with others.
Sams emphasized the President's cooperation with the Justice Department, stating that Biden promptly returned any discovered documents and testified that he was unaware of possessing them. The report acknowledged the President's clear and detailed testimony, including praise for his memory capabilities.
Regarding Biden's memory, the report mentioned his emotional recollection of his son Beau's passing, which the President openly discussed as a driving force behind his post-vice presidency work. Sams defended Biden's memory lapse during the investigation, citing the deeply personal nature of the topic and the President's ongoing grief.
The inclusion of Biden's memory issues in the report drew criticism from former Justice Department officials, who deemed it inappropriate. Sams reiterated that the evidence gathered over the extensive investigation did not support the allegations against President Biden.
In conclusion, the report's findings, as presented by Sams, underscored the lack of substantial evidence to warrant criminal charges against President Biden, ultimately refuting the claims of willful retention of classified materials.
