Hear what Biden sounded like during special counsel interview

CNN - May 16th, 2025

Audio from an interview between former President Joe Biden and former special counsel Robert Hur has been released by Axios, revealing potential struggles with Biden's memory regarding his handling of classified documents. The interview was part of a now-closed investigation conducted by Hur, focusing on how classified materials were managed during Biden's tenure. The publication of this audio has reignited discussions about Biden's cognitive abilities and his approach to handling sensitive information.

The release of this audio comes at a time when public scrutiny of political leaders' handling of classified information is especially intense. The implications of the audio leak underscore the ongoing debate about transparency and accountability in government operations. Additionally, it raises questions about the processes and safeguards in place for managing classified documents. This story highlights the challenges of ensuring security while maintaining public trust, emphasizing the need for robust systems and clear protocols in handling sensitive information.

Joe Biden Robert Hur Classified Documents Axios Memory Audio Leak

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The story effectively highlights a significant event involving former President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur, focusing on Biden's memory struggles. It scores well in timeliness and public interest, given the current relevance and potential implications for political discourse. However, the story could benefit from greater balance by including responses from Biden's team and a broader range of perspectives. While the accuracy of the main claims is well-supported, the story lacks depth in source variety and transparency, which could enhance reader understanding and engagement. Overall, the article provides a clear and timely account but would be strengthened by more comprehensive context and analysis.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports that audio of former President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur was published by Axios. It correctly states that Biden appears to struggle with his memory during this interview. This claim is supported by multiple sources, which note Biden's confusion over key dates and events. However, the story could be more precise in detailing the context and outcome of the investigation, such as the probe ending without criminal charges due to insufficient evidence. The story's claims align with the broader narrative reported by other outlets, confirming its factual accuracy.

Balance

The story provides a narrow viewpoint focusing primarily on Biden's memory struggles, which may suggest a bias towards questioning his cognitive abilities. It lacks a balanced perspective that would include Biden's or his team's responses to the audio release. Additionally, while it mentions the publication of the audio, it omits broader political implications and reactions from both parties, which would provide a more comprehensive view of the situation.

Clarity

The story is clear and concise, effectively communicating the main point that Biden struggled with his memory during the interview. The language is straightforward, making it easy for readers to grasp the essential facts. However, the lack of detailed context about the investigation and the political ramifications could leave readers with unanswered questions, affecting overall comprehension.

Source quality

The story relies on Axios as the source of the audio, which is a reputable outlet. However, it does not cite additional sources or provide direct links to the audio or the original report. The reliance on a single source limits the depth of the reporting and leaves out potential corroborating details from other credible outlets that could enhance the story's reliability.

Transparency

The story lacks transparency in terms of the methodology used to assess Biden's memory struggles. It does not disclose how the audio was obtained or any potential conflicts of interest that might affect the report's impartiality. More context about the investigation's background and the reasons for the audio's release would improve transparency and help readers understand the basis of the claims.