Biden ‘wilfully’ disclosed classified materials but ‘should not be charged’

President Joe Biden should not face charges for ‘wilfully’ holding onto classified documents as a private citizen, said special counsel Robert Hur (Niall Carson/PA)

US President Joe Biden “wilfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials when he was a private citizen, including documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other sensitive national security matters, according to a Justice Department report.

The report from special counsel Robert Hur, which was released on Thursday, represents a harshly critical assessment of Mr Biden’s handling of sensitive government materials, but also details the reasons why he should not be charged with the crime.