International
Special prosecutor defends comments on Biden’s memory in classified documents probe
The special prosecutor who investigated Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents during his time as vice president of the United States, Robert Hur, justified the decision to include comments on the memory of the current US president in his report.
Hur pointed out in the statement he will read this Tuesday before a committee of the House of Representatives of Congress, and which was obtained by US media, that it was necessary not only to reach a conclusion about the president’s actions but also to explain the reason for his decision.
In his February 8 report, Hur exempted Biden, 81, for the retention of classified documents but added that the politician proved to have “a significantly limited memory,” a comment criticized by the president of the United States.
“I knew that for my decision to be credible, I could not simply announce that I recommended that no charges be filed and leave it at that. I needed to explain why,” says Hur in his statement delivered before this morning’s hearing in the Judicial Committee of Congress.
The special prosecutor added that both “the evidence and the president himself put his memory at the center” of the investigation and that his assessment in the report on the relevance of the president’s memory “was necessary, accurate and fair.”
“And what is more important, what I wrote is what I think the evidence shows, and what I hope the jury would perceive and believe. I didn’t dilute my explanation. And I didn’t unfairly disqualify the president either. I explained to the Attorney General my decision and the reasons,” he explained.
The Department of Justice began investigating Biden since at the end of 2022 they were found at his home in Delaware, and in a private office, about twenty classified documents from the time when he was Barack Obama’s vice president (2009-2017).
The result of that investigation is a 400-page report, which was written by Hur, who was appointed special prosecutor of the case by the Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland.
The report points out that Biden demonstrated “a significantly limited memory” in the interrogations and that his condition in 2023 had worsened compared to the recordings of 2017 since, for example, he did not remember the dates on which he served as vice president.
“He didn’t even remember when his son Beau,” who died of cancer in 2015, explained the prosecutor.
In response to Hur’s report, Biden stated that his memory is fine.
“I have good intentions, and I am an older man, and I know what the hell I am doing,” Biden said on February 8 when he was asked about his reaction to Hur’s conclusions.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
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