Newly released audio from President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur has raised fresh concerns about his cognitive abilities. Axios obtained the recordings, revealing long pauses, slurred speech, and moments of confusion as Biden struggled to recall basic details about his tenure as vice president, his son Beau’s death, and the timing of Donald Trump’s election.
The recordings provide a stark contrast to the official transcript released earlier. While the written version captured Biden’s words, it failed to convey the hesitations, muttering, and dry-whisper voice that characterized his responses. His attorneys frequently stepped in to fill gaps in his memory, reminding him of key dates and events.
Hur’s report, released in February 2024, described Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. The newly surfaced audio appears to validate that assessment, showing the president struggling to articulate answers during the six-hour interview. The White House had refused to release the recordings last year, arguing they were protected law enforcement materials and accusing Republicans of seeking to distort them for political purposes.
The timing of the leak is significant. Democrats and media outlets are already grappling with reports of Biden’s declining mental sharpness, as detailed in the upcoming book “Original Sin” by Axios’ Alex Thompson and CNN’s Jake Tapper. The book, set for release next Tuesday, explores how Biden’s inner circle worked to conceal signs of his decline as he pursued another term in office.
The audio also sheds light on why Hur ultimately declined to prosecute Biden for improper possession of classified documents. His determination that jurors would likely view Biden as an elderly man with memory issues played a role in the decision. Republicans have criticized this reasoning, arguing that Trump faced charges for similar offenses while Biden was effectively shielded.
Sources:
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/biden-hur-tape-special-counsel-audio
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/leak-audio-of-confused-bidens-infamous-robert-hur-interview-drops/
https://www.newsweek.com/joe-bidens-robert-hur-audio-obtained-axios-what-we-know-2073540