![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSpecial Counsel Robert Hur faces Congress over Biden classified files reportPublished51 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Matt MurphyBBC News, WashingtonUS lawmakers will grill special counsel Robert Hur on Tuesday, weeks after his report into Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents shook Washington.The report found Mr Biden “wilfully” retained troves of files, but declined to charge him with a crime.Mr Hur said a jury would view the president as a “well meaning, elderly man” with a “poor memory”, in comments that enraged the White House.Voter concerns over Mr Biden’s age mean Republicans will focus on the remarks. The party has been stoking claims for months that the 81-year-old is not mentally fit to serve a second term in the White House, with polling suggesting that a significant proportion of voters are also worried about Mr Biden’s mental acuity. Mr Hur alleged in his February report that the president struggled to recall major events from his time serving as vice-president, and could not remember when exactly his term in office had begun.The president was quick to refute the report’s claims that he was suffering from memory issues, telling reporters: “I’m well-meaning, and I’m an elderly man, and I know what the hell I’m doing.”While the special counsel said Mr Biden had “wilfully” retained scores of documents, some of which he stored in insecure locations including his garage, a jury was unlikely to convict him. But Republicans have continued to attack Mr Biden and have criticised Mr Hur’s refusal to charge him, comparing it with similar charges filed against former President Donald Trump. “Having a poor memory does not absolve you from violating the Espionage Act. Being old and elderly does not absolve you from violating the Espionage Act,” Florida Rep Byron Donalds said on Fox News on Sunday. Dan Judy, a Republican strategist and pollster, told the BBC that the party would almost certainly use the proceedings before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to contrast the two men’s treatment. He suggested that Mr Trump’s allies could seek to portray the decision to charge him and not Mr Biden as a “partisan witch-hunt”. “Now, the details in the two cases are not analogous, but I could see Republican members trying to drive that argument,” he added. “Something along the lines of ‘you looked at this and decided not to charge President Biden and yet President Trump has been charged for the same thing.'” In June, Mr Trump was charged with charged seven counts over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House, with a trial potentially scheduled for this summer. House Republicans have also asked Mr Hur to turn over recordings and transcripts of his interviews with Mr Biden, which he made during his year-long investigation.Five things in the Biden classified documents reportWho is the special counsel in the Biden probe?Will report questioning Biden’s memory change voters’ minds?Meanwhile, the White House was reportedly furious with the references to Mr Biden’s memory, which included suggestions that he could not recall when his son, Beau, died.Speaking after publication, a visibly angry Mr Biden refuted the assertion, telling reporters: “How in the hell dare he raise that.” The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reported that Biden administration officials urged Mr Hur to “revise” some of his language, calling descriptions of the president’s memory “inflammatory”. The special counsel refused to revisit the report. Other Democrats raised questions as to whether Mr Hur’s comments were appropriate for a special counsel’s report. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under President Barack Obama, said the references to Mr Biden’s age were “inconsistent with long standing [Department of Justice] traditions”.”Had this report been subject to a normal DOJ review these remarks would undoubtedly have been excised,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. But Mr Judy told the BBC that Republicans were almost certain to leverage questions around Mr Biden’s age, noting that they fit “neatly into the election year narrative about him, and is certainly the most sensational finding to come out of Hur’s report”.US media reported that White House officials were sharply critical of Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Mr Hur. Some officials, the reports suggested, said Mr Garland should have challenged passages in the report concerning the president’s age. But speaking to CNN, former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who clashed with Mr Trump during his time in office, defended Mr Hur. “Public outcry about special counsel reports is inevitable because internal reports contain embarrassing details people would prefer not to make public and subjective opinions that anyone is free to question,” Mr Rosenstein said. Related TopicsUS CongressUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyFive things in the Biden classified documents reportPublished9 February’My memory is fine’ – Biden hits back at special counselPublished9 FebruaryNo charge for Biden over documents but report questions memoryPublished8 FebruaryHur to testify on Biden’s files and memory lapsesPublished16 FebruaryTop StoriesUK must build new gas power plants or risk blackouts, minister warnsPublished1 hour agoIs pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?Published7 hours agoTory donor accused of racist Diane Abbott remarksPublished3 hours agoFeaturesKate’s photo apology and Tory donor’s Abbott remarksOn Russia’s Arctic border, Nato’s new members prep for warIs pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?Seven of the best moments from the OscarsBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 seconds. VideoBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 secondsOscars parties: The best shots of the celebrations’I was tricked into buying a holiday caravan as a full time home’What is Ramadan, how long does it last and why do Muslims fast?My abusive ex-boyfriend was given a verbal warningElsewhere on the BBC’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerCaffeine: Dangers and benefitsFind out what effects this drug can have on dementia and cardiovascular diseaseAttributionSoundsMost Read1Boeing whistleblower found dead in US2Is pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?3Tory donor accused of racist Diane Abbott remarks4Kate’s photo apology and Tory donor’s Abbott remarks5New gas power plants to stop blackouts – minister6Seven of the best moments from the Oscars7Man took teen out to sea to rape her, court hears8India to enforce migrant law that excludes Muslims9Daughter’s fears over funeral home investigation10Haiti spirals to collapse as gangs tighten grip](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/5789/production/_132890422_gettyimages-1148056967.jpg)
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSpecial Counsel Robert Hur faces Congress over Biden classified files reportPublished51 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Matt MurphyBBC News, WashingtonUS lawmakers will grill special counsel Robert Hur on Tuesday, weeks after his report into Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents shook Washington.The report found Mr Biden “wilfully” retained troves of files, but declined to charge him with a crime.Mr Hur said a jury would view the president as a “well meaning, elderly man” with a “poor memory”, in comments that enraged the White House.Voter concerns over Mr Biden’s age mean Republicans will focus on the remarks. The party has been stoking claims for months that the 81-year-old is not mentally fit to serve a second term in the White House, with polling suggesting that a significant proportion of voters are also worried about Mr Biden’s mental acuity. Mr Hur alleged in his February report that the president struggled to recall major events from his time serving as vice-president, and could not remember when exactly his term in office had begun.The president was quick to refute the report’s claims that he was suffering from memory issues, telling reporters: “I’m well-meaning, and I’m an elderly man, and I know what the hell I’m doing.”While the special counsel said Mr Biden had “wilfully” retained scores of documents, some of which he stored in insecure locations including his garage, a jury was unlikely to convict him. But Republicans have continued to attack Mr Biden and have criticised Mr Hur’s refusal to charge him, comparing it with similar charges filed against former President Donald Trump. “Having a poor memory does not absolve you from violating the Espionage Act. Being old and elderly does not absolve you from violating the Espionage Act,” Florida Rep Byron Donalds said on Fox News on Sunday. Dan Judy, a Republican strategist and pollster, told the BBC that the party would almost certainly use the proceedings before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to contrast the two men’s treatment. He suggested that Mr Trump’s allies could seek to portray the decision to charge him and not Mr Biden as a “partisan witch-hunt”. “Now, the details in the two cases are not analogous, but I could see Republican members trying to drive that argument,” he added. “Something along the lines of ‘you looked at this and decided not to charge President Biden and yet President Trump has been charged for the same thing.'” In June, Mr Trump was charged with charged seven counts over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House, with a trial potentially scheduled for this summer. House Republicans have also asked Mr Hur to turn over recordings and transcripts of his interviews with Mr Biden, which he made during his year-long investigation.Five things in the Biden classified documents reportWho is the special counsel in the Biden probe?Will report questioning Biden’s memory change voters’ minds?Meanwhile, the White House was reportedly furious with the references to Mr Biden’s memory, which included suggestions that he could not recall when his son, Beau, died.Speaking after publication, a visibly angry Mr Biden refuted the assertion, telling reporters: “How in the hell dare he raise that.” The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reported that Biden administration officials urged Mr Hur to “revise” some of his language, calling descriptions of the president’s memory “inflammatory”. The special counsel refused to revisit the report. Other Democrats raised questions as to whether Mr Hur’s comments were appropriate for a special counsel’s report. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under President Barack Obama, said the references to Mr Biden’s age were “inconsistent with long standing [Department of Justice] traditions”.”Had this report been subject to a normal DOJ review these remarks would undoubtedly have been excised,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. But Mr Judy told the BBC that Republicans were almost certain to leverage questions around Mr Biden’s age, noting that they fit “neatly into the election year narrative about him, and is certainly the most sensational finding to come out of Hur’s report”.US media reported that White House officials were sharply critical of Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Mr Hur. Some officials, the reports suggested, said Mr Garland should have challenged passages in the report concerning the president’s age. But speaking to CNN, former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who clashed with Mr Trump during his time in office, defended Mr Hur. “Public outcry about special counsel reports is inevitable because internal reports contain embarrassing details people would prefer not to make public and subjective opinions that anyone is free to question,” Mr Rosenstein said. Related TopicsUS CongressUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyFive things in the Biden classified documents reportPublished9 February’My memory is fine’ – Biden hits back at special counselPublished9 FebruaryNo charge for Biden over documents but report questions memoryPublished8 FebruaryHur to testify on Biden’s files and memory lapsesPublished16 FebruaryTop StoriesUK must build new gas power plants or risk blackouts, minister warnsPublished1 hour agoIs pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?Published7 hours agoTory donor accused of racist Diane Abbott remarksPublished3 hours agoFeaturesKate’s photo apology and Tory donor’s Abbott remarksOn Russia’s Arctic border, Nato’s new members prep for warIs pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?Seven of the best moments from the OscarsBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 seconds. VideoBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 secondsOscars parties: The best shots of the celebrations’I was tricked into buying a holiday caravan as a full time home’What is Ramadan, how long does it last and why do Muslims fast?My abusive ex-boyfriend was given a verbal warningElsewhere on the BBC’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerCaffeine: Dangers and benefitsFind out what effects this drug can have on dementia and cardiovascular diseaseAttributionSoundsMost Read1Boeing whistleblower found dead in US2Is pressure on Kate after photo chaos unfair?3Tory donor accused of racist Diane Abbott remarks4Kate’s photo apology and Tory donor’s Abbott remarks5New gas power plants to stop blackouts – minister6Seven of the best moments from the Oscars7Man took teen out to sea to rape her, court hears8India to enforce migrant law that excludes Muslims9Daughter’s fears over funeral home investigation10Haiti spirals to collapse as gangs tighten grip
[ad_1] Dan Judy, a Republican strategist and pollster, told the BBC that the party would almost certainly use the proceedings before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to contrast the…
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear impending Israeli ground offensivePublished15 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Dr Ahmed AbuibaidBy Adam Durbin & Alys DaviesBBC NewsA Palestinian doctor in Rafah has said people are terrified about the prospect of an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza’s southern-most city, after a night of some of the worst air strikes he has experienced since arriving there.In a series of messages sent to the BBC by phone overnight, Dr Ahmed Abuibaid described the air strikes as incessant and everywhere.”[The] most popular question on people’s minds is, where can we go?” he said.Last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had ordered troops to prepare to expand its ground operation into Rafah.More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million is now crammed into the city on the border with Egypt, which was home to only 250,000 people before the war between Israel and Hamas. Many of the displaced people are living in makeshift shelters or tents in squalid conditions, with scarce access to safe drinking water or food.On Monday, UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned that an assault on Rafah would be “terrifying, given the prospect that an extremely high number of civilians, again mostly children and women, will likely be killed and injured”.He also said it could mean that the “meagre” humanitarian aid getting into Gaza might stop, with most deliveries currently going through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing. His warning follows an unusually sharp criticism from the US last week, with President Joe Biden calling Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza “over the top” and the White House stating that Israel should not mount an operation in Rafah without proper planning to ensure civilians were not harmed..flourish-container{position:relative;color:#404040;font-family:’Helmet’, ‘Freesans’, ‘Helvetica’, ‘Arial’, sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-height:1.4}.flourish-embed{position:relative}
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Those comments were echoed by the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who urged allies of Israel on Monday to stop sending weapons as “too many people” are being killed in Gaza.The UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, also said Israel should “stop and think seriously” before taking further action in Rafah.In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was “working out a detailed plan” to move civilians to areas north of the city.”Victory is within reach,” he said. “Those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying, ‘lose the war, keep Hamas there.'”The Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign in Gaza after Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 other people hostage.The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 28,100 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting since then.Image source, Dr Ahmed AbuibaidImage caption, Dr Abuibaid took this picture of a crater in Rafah caused by what he said was an Israeli air strikeOne of the displaced people in Rafah is Dr Abuibaid, who was forced to abandon his job at Nasser Hospital in the nearby city of Khan Younis after his home was destroyed in an Israeli air strike and his father suffered a traumatic spinal injury.He is now facing the possibility of having to move out of Rafah – but it is unclear where would be safe for him to go.”People are very scared about a possible military ground operation soon in the city,” he said.Overnight Israeli strikes from Sunday into Monday, carried out during a operation to rescue two Israeli hostages, frightened many others who have sought refuge in the city.Abo Mohamed Attya said he was sleeping in a tent with his family when he woke up to the sound of the bombardment.”Suddenly… missiles are being hit everywhere and firing as well and airplanes everywhere, all of this is on the tents and the people in the streets,” he told the BBC.Mr Attya, who previously fled Nuseirat refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip after receiving Israeli evacuation orders, complained that there had been no warning from the Israeli military that they were going to target Rafah overnight.”We hoped there was a warning to evacuate like they did in Nuseirat and we went to Rafah. We would have went out of Rafah to anywhere they told us. We have no problem, we would evacuate for our children,” he explained.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, The BBC’s Jeremy Bowen on why Rafah is Israel’s next military focus, and what it could meanThe Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry said at least 67 people were killed in the Israeli strikes and hostage rescue raid in Rafah overnight.”There is no safe place anymore; nowhere is safe, even the hospitals are unsafe. One hopes to die instead,” Mr Attya said.Aside from the continuing threat of Israeli air strikes and an impending ground operation, the situation for people in Rafah is made more difficult by the dire living conditions, with little access to water, food and sanitation, and rapidly dwindling medical supplies.Dr Abuibaid said he had observed many diseases among the people in Rafah and that they had been exacerbated by the “severe decrease in the availability of drugs and treatment”.Another medic in Rafah, who did not want to be named, told the BBC that many people were living in cramped and unsanitary conditions.”I live here with 20 people in two rooms… and I know people that are 100 people in three rooms.””We don’t have water to wash, we don’t have clothes, we don’t have the option to do hygiene stuff,” he said.Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock”My friends, all of the people I meet… all of them are having at least flu, cholera, diarrhoea, scabies, hepatitis A – which is a newcomer for us – and it’s getting worse and worse.””And the aid is less as the siege is increasing, the war is increasing, [Israeli soldiers] are getting closer to Rafah, and it feels very scary right now”, he said.Despite being located next to the only crossing point for goods and people between Gaza and Egypt, Rafah has not received nearly enough aid to satisfy the needs of the people there.One man in the city told the BBC that currently people were waiting days for aid deliveries, and that when they did arrive, supplies of water were insufficient.”We can’t find water nor do we get enough of it, our throats are dry from the shortage of water,” another woman in Rafah said.The head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza, said on Monday that civil order was breaking down, with members of the local Hamas-run police force being killed or reluctant to protect aid lorries because of fears for their own safety.”Yesterday, for the first time, the UN could not operate with a minimum of protection, which was local police. And because we had no local police, our trucks, our convoys at the border have been looted, and trucks have been vandalised by hundreds of young people.” ‘No idea’ where to goFor some of the displaced, however, fears of what could come next are even overriding their daily anxieties of finding drinkable water and food.”Before we were thinking about starvation for the food, for the shortage of water and electricity. But now we are traumatised about what’s the next step, where we should go. This is our daily life right now,” Ibrahim Isbaita told the BBC.Asked where he and his family are considering going if they had to leave Rafah, Mr Isbaita said: “I have actually no idea.”He said his mother needed dialysis treatment, which she is currently able to receive in Rafah when electricity supplies allow – though the treatment is less frequent than is needed. The fear is that if they move, she will not be able to find any treatment in the next place.”I live besides the hospital because of my mother and we are trying our best to find a solution,” Mr Isbaita added.More on this storyIsrael rescues two hostages in Rafah amid deadly strikesPublished7 hours agoTop StoriesPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensivePublished15 minutes agoLabour defends standing by candidate despite Israel remarksPublished3 hours agoWomen say police failed to look into officer abusePublished2 hours agoFeaturesWhat we know about Israel’s Rafah hostage rescue raidInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. VideoWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super BowlWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Six false alarms like Harry Potter wand ‘knifeman’Jeremy Bowen: Why is Rafah the new focus in Gaza war? 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