Special Counsel Robert K. Hur fiercely defends assessment of President Biden’s mental state in final report
In a heated hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Special Counsel Robert K. Hur stood his ground and defended his assessment of President Biden’s mental state in his final report. Despite not charging Mr. Biden with a crime, Hur faced tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans regarding his findings.
Hur, a registered Republican and former Trump Justice Department official, emphasized that his work was done impartially and without political bias. He expressed concerns about Biden’s memory but maintained that his decision not to bring charges was based on a thorough and fair investigation.
Democrats released a transcript of the interview Hur conducted with Biden, which offered a more nuanced view of the president’s memory lapses. While Biden struggled with specific dates and events, Hur’s report described him as a sympathetic elderly man with a poor memory.
During the hearing, Hur faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Democrats defended Biden’s mental fitness, while Republicans sought to draw comparisons between Biden and former President Trump’s handling of sensitive materials.
Hur refused to accept the Republican argument that Biden’s actions were comparable to Trump’s indictment in the Florida documents case. He emphasized the distinctions in their cooperation with investigators and handling of classified information.
Despite facing criticism from Democrats for his assessment of Biden’s memory, Hur stood by his report’s characterization of the president. He rejected claims that Biden would have been charged with a crime if he had remembered his actions and maintained that his decision not to prosecute did not set a new precedent for handling sensitive information.
Hur testified as a private citizen, having resigned as special counsel. He was represented by a private lawyer, William A. Burck, who sat behind him during the hearing. The political implications of Hur’s report and testimony are likely to reverberate in the coming weeks as both sides continue to debate the findings.
