Republicans Slam Biden as Unfit for Office After Classified Documents Report, Democrats Say He’s Cleared

The recent report by Special Counsel Robert Hur on President Biden’s handling of classified documents has sparked a heated debate among political figures, with Republicans claiming that Biden is unfit for office and Democrats arguing that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

According to the report, President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen. The findings have led to criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have seized on Hur’s descriptions of Biden’s fragility and advanced age, including an instance when he had trouble recalling the year of his son’s death.

Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., wrote on social media, “Special Counsel Hur said Biden is a ‘well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.’ His present mental and physical condition should preclude him from being the President of the United States.”

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, accused the federal government of operating on a double standard of justice over Biden’s lack of recommended charges. “Today’s report from Robert Hur tells us two things: There’s a double standard of justice in this country. And Joe Biden isn’t fit for office,” Jordan said.

Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, similarly wrote on social media, “The Special Counsel found Biden had ‘uncovered evidence that Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after he was VP when he was a private citizen.’ But will not charge him! The deep state protects their own.”

However, Biden ally Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., pointed out the distinction that Hur made between the parallel investigations into Biden and former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. “MAGA Republicans will no doubt now call to investigate the investigators — it’s their favorite move — but the Hur report effectively ends the discussion. President Biden cooperated fully with the Special Counsel and redacted no portion of the Special Counsel’s report. Unlike Trump, President Biden has nothing to hide,” Nadler said.

The report also noted that Biden had “significant limitations” in his memory, including during his time in office as vice president in the Obama administration. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned Biden’s qualifications for another term as president based on these findings. “Biden doesn’t remember his time as VP? But somehow he’s qualified to be President for another 4 years?”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the upper chamber’s prominent campaign fundraising group, also weighed in, stating, “Joe Biden is unfit to be president.”

Despite the Republican criticism, the Department of Justice has not announced any charges against Biden. Hur, who was not in charge of Trump’s classified documents case, wrote of the former president, “Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr. Trump allegedly did the opposite.”

The report has fueled concerns among Republicans about a two-tiered system of justice, with some senators comparing Biden’s handling of classified documents to Trump’s. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., wrote on social media, “President Biden mishandled classified documents for years, storing them in the garage of his Delaware home, and yet, no charges are expected. Meanwhile, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home was raided by the FBI and he’s facing a weaponized DOJ. A clear two-tiered system of justice.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital in an interview that the report “is gonna really fuel concerns that there’s two tiers of justice.” He added, “Joe Biden literally had classified documents in an unlocked garage that Hunter Biden, who’s probably compromised, was living in. So I think that, you know, without getting the specific facts of the case, that certainly I think the public would tell that you’ve got two tiers of justice here, which is very concerning.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote on social media, “President Biden mishandled classified documents for years, storing them in the garage of his Delaware home, and yet, no charges are expected. Tennesseans and Americans are fed up with the two tiers of justice that has become the status quo of this administration.”

In response to the report, the White House released a statement saying, “The Special Counsel’s investigation has identified no evidence of intentional misconduct or obstructive acts with respect to the President.”

Despite the ongoing debate, it is clear that the report has added fuel to the fire of political tensions in the United States, with both sides continuing to make their cases to the American people. The issue is likely to remain a contentious one in the lead up to the 2024 elections.

Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.