Report: Biden Mishandled Material but Unlikely to be Charged in Docs Case

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Facts

  • The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the federal prosecutor investigating Pres. Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents during his time as vice president is preparing a report that will be critical of how Biden and his aides handled the material. But the president is unlikely to face criminal charges.1
  • US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Robert Hur is expected to release his report on the investigation in the 'next couple months.' Hur has reportedly interviewed more than 100 of Biden’s personal and professional associates, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain.2
  • Hur was appointed to oversee the investigation in January after the DOJ launched its investigation and found classified documents from the Obama administration in Biden's Penn Biden Center office as well as his Delaware home.2
  • Biden's team found 10 records marked as classified in his Washington, D.C. office last year, while searches by Biden's lawyers and the FBI found more materials in his homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.3
  • Hur's potential decision to not pursue charges would come at the same time former Pres. Donald Trump is facing criminal charges in a similar case led by special counsel Jack Smith.4

Sources: 1The Wall Street Journal, 2Forbes, 3Daily Wire and 4CNN.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by ABC News. If Biden doesn't face charges it's because he complied with the DOJ’s investigation every step of the way and promptly reported any materials he may have possessed with full transparency and good intention. Meanwhile, Trump failed to turn over requested documents and has been combative since he left office. These two cases are not the same.
  • Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by FOX News. There was no way Biden's own DOJ was ever going to thoroughly investigate him in a legitimate manner. That doesn't mean he hasn't committed criminal acts. Where there's smoke there's fire, and that's why House Republicans are conducting an impeachment inquiry to get to the bottom of all of Biden's potential malfeasance and the interconnections.

Predictions