Secret document report doesn’t exonerate Biden: US prosecutor

Former US Special Counsel Robert Hur face intense questioning from the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, involved in an impeachment inquiry into the 81-year-old Democratic president

A U.S. prosecutor emphasized that his investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents did not absolve the president of wrongdoing, despite the decision not to press charges in a statement Tuesday.

The prosecutor sparked controversy by suggesting that Biden had a “deficient recollection.” 

Former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Hur faced intense questioning from the Republican-led House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, a body involved in an impeachment inquiry into the 81-year-old Democratic president. 

Hur, who was appointed as the former chief federal prosecutor in Maryland by Biden’s predecessor and political opponent, Republican Donald Trump, stated that he did not clear the president of any wrongdoing.

He highlighted that the investigation revealed evidence indicating that Biden knowingly retained confidential documents after his vice presidency ended in 2017. 

While Trump is confronting four imminent criminal trials, including federal charges related to the retention of classified documents post-presidency, he is additionally accused of obstruction for impeding government efforts to retrieve them. 

Hur defended his discussion about Biden’s memory, asserting that the president’s mental state was pertinent to determining potential criminal actions. 

“I provided an essential, accurate, and impartial assessment of the president’s memory in the report,” Hur stated.

“I did not dilute my explanation, nor did I unfairly criticize the president. I presented my decision and rationale to the attorney general as required,” Hur added.

Responding to Hur’s comments, White House spokesperson Ian Sams contended that the special counsel’s testimony validated the absence of criminal charges. 

“The investigation is closed,” Sams informed reporters. 

Certain Democrats criticized Hur’s focus on Biden’s memory as unwarranted and inappropriate. Representative Adam Schiff insinuated that Hur was cognizant of the maximal political impact of his analysis. 

Hur maintained that politics did not influence his report, which triggered a backlash from the White House upon its release last month. 

During a reviewed interview with Biden last October amid tensions following Hamas’s assault on Israel, the president initiated discussions about his memory with Hur. 

“I’m still youthful, so no issues there,” Biden humorously remarked to Hur when informed about questions regarding past events, as per the transcript. 

The transcript revealed that Biden provided candid responses to many queries but encountered difficulties recalling specific details, such as his departure from the vice presidency. 

Hur’s congressional appearance occurred shortly after Biden’s assertive State of the Union address, signaling the commencement of his reelection campaign against Trump. 

While Hur highlighted distinctions between the Biden and Trump document cases, including alleged obstruction by Trump, Republican legislators accused prosecutors of applying a double standard. 

“Joe Biden violated the law, but due to his elderly and sympathetic demeanor, Hur opted against filing charges,” remarked Republican Representative Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. 

Biden, the oldest individual to assume the U.S. presidency, refuted these characterizations in public statements after the report’s publication, asserting that his memory remained intact.

Vice President Kamala Harris labeled the report as politically motivated. 

Appointed as a U.S. attorney by Trump and later designated as special counsel by Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland following the surfacing of Biden’s documents, Hur’s tenure concluded on Monday, according to the department. 

 Source: Reuters