Robert K. Hur, the special counsel who recently concluded an investigation into President Biden’s retention of sensitive government documents, will face tough questioning from both Democrats and Republicans when he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
In his report, Mr. Hur found that President Biden should face no criminal charges, but his description of the president as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Republicans are likely to question his legal justifications for not charging Mr. Biden, while Democrats will try to undermine his authority to make such assessments.
Mr. Hur, who has resigned as special counsel and will testify as a private citizen, will be represented by a private lawyer during the hearing. The political stakes of the hearing are high, coming just days after President Biden delivered a State of the Union address defending his presidency.
The challenges of deploying special counsels, like Mr. Hur, are highlighted in this case, as they often result in the release of negative information about individuals who have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Despite the criticism he has faced, Mr. Hur’s handling of the investigation has been praised for striking the right balance between thoroughness and fairness.
As Mr. Hur prepares to face questioning from lawmakers, the nation will be watching to see how he defends his decision and navigates the political minefield of Capitol Hill.
