On Sunday and Monday, President Joe Biden was interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Hur over his wreckless mishandling of classified documents he left unattended at his Delaware home and in his private office. It took until Tuesday for the big three news networks to catch on and report on this.
ABC, CBS, and NBC only managed to offer a measly 48-second total to the news during their Tuesday evening newscasts. ABC's World News Tonight (15 seconds), CBS Evening News (24 seconds), and NBC Nightly News (9 seconds). Despite each show being two hours long, ABC's Good Morning America and CBS Mornings each gave just 9 seconds, while NBC's Today managed 42 seconds.
World News Tonight anchor David Muir gave a news brief on the Biden testimony: "We have learned President Biden has met with the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents. The President voluntarily interviewed by Robert Hur over two days. Documents from his time as Vice President found at his former office and home in Delaware. The President says he didn't know they were there."
Just like on ABC, CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell briefly reported the news and repeated Biden's excuses:
The White House confirms that President Biden has been interviewed by the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents from his time as Vice President. The President met on Sunday and Monday with special counsel Robert Hur who was appointed earlier this year to look into the storage of more than two dozen documents at the President's home in Delaware and another office. Biden maintains he did nothing wrong.
Reporting live from the White House for NBC Nightly News, correspondent Peter Alexander could only muster one sentence. "While all of this was happening the president was interviewed Sunday and Monday by the special counsel investigating his handling of those classified documents," Alexander reported.
The transcripts are below:
ABC’s World News Tonight
10/10/2023
6:55:06 p.m. Eastern
15 secondsDAVID MUIR: We have learned President Biden has met with the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents. The President voluntarily interviewed by Robert Hur over two days. Documents from his time as Vice President found at his former office and home in Delaware. The President says he didn't know they were there.
CBS Evening News
10/10/2023
6:50:00 p.m. Eastern
24 secondsNORAH O’DONNELL: The White House confirms that President Biden has been interviewed by the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents from his time as Vice President. The President met on Sunday and Monday with special counsel Robert Hur who was appointed earlier this year to look into the storage of more than two dozen documents at the President's home in Delaware and another office. Biden maintains he did nothing wrong.
NBC Nightly News
10/10/2023
6:46:43 p.m. Eastern
9 seconds
PETER ALEXANDER: While all of this was happening the president was interviewed Sunday and Monday by the special counsel investigating his handling of those classified documents.
