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| Democrats rally around Biden as report raises age concerns | Democrats rally around Biden as report raises age concerns |
| (4 months later) | |
| Democrats who have spent time with Mr Biden have defended him as sharp and focused | Democrats who have spent time with Mr Biden have defended him as sharp and focused |
| Democrats who have spent time with Mr Biden have defended him as sharp and focused | Democrats who have spent time with Mr Biden have defended him as sharp and focused |
| Democrats are defending President Joe Biden after a report on his handling of classified documents raised concerns about his age and mental fitness. | Democrats are defending President Joe Biden after a report on his handling of classified documents raised concerns about his age and mental fitness. |
| Mr Biden will not be charged for keeping classified documents, but the report cast him as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory". | Mr Biden will not be charged for keeping classified documents, but the report cast him as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory". |
| Vice-President Kamala Harris slammed the description as "gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate". | Vice-President Kamala Harris slammed the description as "gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate". |
| She also alleged the prosecutor was "clearly politically motivated". | She also alleged the prosecutor was "clearly politically motivated". |
| Robert Hur, a Donald Trump appointee who has previously clerked for two well-known conservative judges, was appointed to lead the Biden classified document probe last year. | Robert Hur, a Donald Trump appointee who has previously clerked for two well-known conservative judges, was appointed to lead the Biden classified document probe last year. |
| Prosecutor faces political glare after Biden report | Prosecutor faces political glare after Biden report |
| Prosecutor faces political glare after Biden report | Prosecutor faces political glare after Biden report |
| His selection by US Attorney General Merrick Garland that January came as the justice department faced criticism from Republicans over a separate special counsel appointment to investigate Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of top secret files. | His selection by US Attorney General Merrick Garland that January came as the justice department faced criticism from Republicans over a separate special counsel appointment to investigate Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of top secret files. |
| But Mr Hur's publicly-released report included a letter from the White House asking that the comments about the president's memory be revised "in a manner that is within the bounds of your expertise and remit". | But Mr Hur's publicly-released report included a letter from the White House asking that the comments about the president's memory be revised "in a manner that is within the bounds of your expertise and remit". |
| Ms Harris, who has previously served as a prosecutor, echoed that criticism at a news conference on Friday. | Ms Harris, who has previously served as a prosecutor, echoed that criticism at a news conference on Friday. |
| "The way that the president's demeanour in that report was characterised could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated," she said. | "The way that the president's demeanour in that report was characterised could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated," she said. |
| "When it comes to the role and responsibility of a prosecutor in a situation like that, we should expect there would be a higher level of integrity." | "When it comes to the role and responsibility of a prosecutor in a situation like that, we should expect there would be a higher level of integrity." |
| Political grenade puts spotlight on Biden’s age | Political grenade puts spotlight on Biden’s age |
| Political grenade puts spotlight on Biden’s age | Political grenade puts spotlight on Biden’s age |
| Who is the special counsel in the Biden probe? | Who is the special counsel in the Biden probe? |
| Who is the special counsel in the Biden probe? | Who is the special counsel in the Biden probe? |
| Democratic allies on Capitol Hill also told the BBC they believed Mr Hur's remarks went beyond the scope of the investigation. | Democratic allies on Capitol Hill also told the BBC they believed Mr Hur's remarks went beyond the scope of the investigation. |
| "I think it was an entirely inappropriate way to approach the remit of the special counsel and the role of the special counsel," Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said. | "I think it was an entirely inappropriate way to approach the remit of the special counsel and the role of the special counsel," Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said. |
| "It's unfortunate it wandered into territory that was so inappropriate." | "It's unfortunate it wandered into territory that was so inappropriate." |
| Minnesota's Tina Smith called Mr Hur's comments "outrageous" and "despicable", accusing him of "blatantly politicising" his role as special counsel. | Minnesota's Tina Smith called Mr Hur's comments "outrageous" and "despicable", accusing him of "blatantly politicising" his role as special counsel. |
| Since launching his re-election campaign, Mr Biden has been plagued by concerns about his age and mental capacities. | Since launching his re-election campaign, Mr Biden has been plagued by concerns about his age and mental capacities. |
| He is 81, just a few years older than the front-runner Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, 77. | He is 81, just a few years older than the front-runner Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, 77. |
| This report has done little to assuage voters' concerns. It alleged that Mr Biden could not remember when his son Beau died of cancer or when he served as vice-president during interviews with investigators. | This report has done little to assuage voters' concerns. It alleged that Mr Biden could not remember when his son Beau died of cancer or when he served as vice-president during interviews with investigators. |
| But Democrats who spoke to the BBC on Friday said they remain unconcerned about the president's mental faculties. | But Democrats who spoke to the BBC on Friday said they remain unconcerned about the president's mental faculties. |
| Summing up his takeaways from the report, Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia said: "No charges recommended. Unusual commentary straying from what one would typically expect in a focused and substantive report. Ultimately just noise." | Summing up his takeaways from the report, Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia said: "No charges recommended. Unusual commentary straying from what one would typically expect in a focused and substantive report. Ultimately just noise." |
| The youngest member of the Senate, Mr Ossoff emphasised that he had spent a "substantial amount of time" with the president in recent months. | The youngest member of the Senate, Mr Ossoff emphasised that he had spent a "substantial amount of time" with the president in recent months. |
| "I've found him to be sharp, focused, impressive, formidable and effective," he said. | "I've found him to be sharp, focused, impressive, formidable and effective," he said. |
| Mr Ossoff's colleagues agreed, including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who called the president "thoughtful and experienced" at a Friday news conference. | Mr Ossoff's colleagues agreed, including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who called the president "thoughtful and experienced" at a Friday news conference. |
| Democrats remain "absolutely confident" in the president, he said. "We want to stick with somebody who understands what this country needs." | Democrats remain "absolutely confident" in the president, he said. "We want to stick with somebody who understands what this country needs." |
| Watch: Biden responds to special counsel - "I'm elderly and know what the hell I'm doing" | Watch: Biden responds to special counsel - "I'm elderly and know what the hell I'm doing" |
| Watch: Biden responds to special counsel - "I'm elderly and know what the hell I'm doing" | Watch: Biden responds to special counsel - "I'm elderly and know what the hell I'm doing" |
| But some of his counterparts across the aisle said Mr Hur's observations had added fuel to the growing perception that Mr Biden is not up to the job of president. | But some of his counterparts across the aisle said Mr Hur's observations had added fuel to the growing perception that Mr Biden is not up to the job of president. |
| "He's trying to do his best, and his best is beginning to concern me," North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told the BBC. | "He's trying to do his best, and his best is beginning to concern me," North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told the BBC. |
| "I don't care if you're 78 or 178, if you're going to be the leader of the free world, you've got to be on your game 100%," the moderate Republican said. | "I don't care if you're 78 or 178, if you're going to be the leader of the free world, you've got to be on your game 100%," the moderate Republican said. |
| Concerns about Mr Biden's age are "an enduring problem" for his re-election campaign, Larry Sabato, the director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, told the BBC. | Concerns about Mr Biden's age are "an enduring problem" for his re-election campaign, Larry Sabato, the director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, told the BBC. |
| Experts have noted that polling suggests Mr Trump does not face as much criticism from voters about his age, despite having similar gaffes as Mr Biden on the campaign trail. | Experts have noted that polling suggests Mr Trump does not face as much criticism from voters about his age, despite having similar gaffes as Mr Biden on the campaign trail. |
| In recent months, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have made a series of public errors while publicly speaking, confusing names of world leaders and US politicians on several occasions. | In recent months, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have made a series of public errors while publicly speaking, confusing names of world leaders and US politicians on several occasions. |
| But Mr Trump's bombastic style and "constant offensive posture" may fuel perceptions of him as a more energetic candidate, said Chris Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. | But Mr Trump's bombastic style and "constant offensive posture" may fuel perceptions of him as a more energetic candidate, said Chris Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. |
| Worries about Mr Trump's age "don't seem to stick in the same way", he said. | Worries about Mr Trump's age "don't seem to stick in the same way", he said. |
| But for Mr Biden, his campaign will have to be focused on addressing the perception that he is not mentally fit for office. | But for Mr Biden, his campaign will have to be focused on addressing the perception that he is not mentally fit for office. |
| "The report adds to the steepness of [Biden's] efforts to overcome what is undoubtedly a significant hindrance to his campaign," Mr Borick said. | "The report adds to the steepness of [Biden's] efforts to overcome what is undoubtedly a significant hindrance to his campaign," Mr Borick said. |
| Related topics | |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| US Congress | US Congress |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |