Special counsel Robert Hur has completed his investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents while out of office, as announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland in a letter to congressional leaders. The Department of Justice informed that Hur submitted the final report, appendices, and a letter from counsel after engaging with the White House’s and Biden’s personal lawyers for comments. Garland emphasized his commitment to making as much of the report public as possible, subject to legal requirements and Department policy, following the completion of the White House’s privilege review.
While the White House expects the privilege review to conclude by the end of the week, reports suggest that Biden’s team is preparing for potential embarrassing details and photos in the report, although no criminal charges are anticipated. Garland appointed Hur, who served as a U.S. attorney in Maryland during the Trump administration, as special counsel in January 2023 after classified records were found at Biden’s office before the 2022 midterms. Subsequent searches occurred at Biden’s residences in Delaware, revealing materials dating back to his time as vice president and U.S. senator.
Biden’s representatives asserted their cooperation with investigators, with the president maintaining there is no wrongdoing. House Republicans link Biden’s handling of classified documents to their corruption-focused impeachment inquiry and have sought a deposition with former White House Counsel Dana Remus. This investigation is viewed in the context of the upcoming election, where Biden might face former President Donald Trump, who is also under investigation for handling classified documents led by special counsel Jack Smith, with Trump pleading not guilty in multiple cases.
