Law Professor and Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley has scrutinized newly released audio from a 2023 interview between President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur, claiming the tapes provide a damning look at Biden’s mental state and suggest a double standard in the application of justice within Washington. The interview, conducted from October 8-9, 2023, was initially kept under wraps by Biden’s Justice Department, despite his ongoing campaign for a second term. Turley highlights that the audio not only reveals Biden’s alleged cognitive decline but also raises questions about the integrity of the legal process, particularly given the contrasting treatment of President Donald Trump for similar offenses.
The leaked tapes, which include Biden repeatedly stating he doesn’t remember details regarding classified documents, have been interpreted by critics as evidence of a systemic bias. Turley argues that the legal system appears to apply different standards to different individuals, with Trump facing prosecution while Biden’s alleged breaches were downplayed. The audio also provides insight into the White House’s handling of the matter, suggesting that staff were complicit in concealing Biden’s mental state from the public. This, according to Turley, marks a broader pattern of political maneuvering and cover-ups, which he calls a ‘political racketeering enterprise.’
The media’s response to the tapes has also come under scrutiny. Turley notes that major outlets like CNN and MSNBC initially dismissed reports of Biden’s cognitive decline, with some commentators even criticizing those who raised concerns as being mocking Biden for a childhood stutter. This, he argues, demonstrates a form of journalistic bias, where the media is more willing to report on political scandals when they align with their own narratives or when the subject is no longer a current leader. Once the public witnessed the evidence during the 2024 debate, however, the media quickly shifted their stance, seemingly eager to acknowledge the truth. Turley also draws a parallel to the aftermath of Hunter Biden’s laptop revelations, where the media expressed regret for their prior dismissal of the issue.
Biden’s own response to the audio has been described as defensive, with the president reportedly lashing out at reporters who questioned his memory of personal tragedies, such as the death of his son Beau. Turley suggests that this defensive attitude further supports the narrative that Biden’s mental state has been an issue of public concern, yet the White House has been reluctant to acknowledge the severity of the situation. He also points out that Biden’s line about keeping classified documents for ‘posterity’s sake’ has been used by critics to argue that he was essentially preserving evidence for his own legacy, a practice that was deemed illegal for Trump but overlooked in Biden’s case.
Turley’s analysis underscores a broader critique of the media’s role in shaping public opinion and the apparent inconsistency in how political figures are treated by the justice system. The professor argues that the current situation in Washington reflects a deep-seated culture of self-interest and cover-ups, rather than a genuine commitment to accountability. This, he suggests, has created a perception of injustice, particularly among those who believe that the system is biased in favor of certain individuals or parties.