A comprehensive 388-page report penned by Special Counsel Robert Hur has addressed the issue of classified materials in the possession of President Biden after his tenure as Vice President. The report, which emerged from Congressional release and was not subject to White House privilege claims, recommends against the indictment of the sitting president based on historical precedents.
The investigation headed by Robert Hur, who previously served as a U.S. Attorney for Maryland, found that President Biden had retained classified documents that spanned topics from Afghanistan’s military and foreign policy to sensitive entries in his personal notebooks. These materials were reportedly kept to aid in the composition of his memoirs and to consolidate his political legacy.
Special Counsel Hur’s findings highlight that President Biden had these sensitive materials in locations not equipped for proper storage, including his Delaware residence and Washington D.C. office provided by the University of Pennsylvania. This discovery draws questions regarding proper security measures for classified information, especially considering President Biden’s extensive background in handling such data.
The report also discusses an incident where Mr. Biden referred to materials while working with his ghostwriter, illustrating possible mishandling of the information. The revelation follows a contradictory stance taken by President Biden last year, wherein he labelled the retaining of classified documents, as allegedly done by former President Trump, as a severe lapse in responsibility.
Attorney General Merrick Garland had selected Robert Hur to conduct this investigation on January 12 of the previous year, a development that came in the wake of episodic admissions of newly found documents by the current administration. The inquest culminated after a detailed interview with President Biden in October.
While no charges are recommended against President Biden, the findings of Robert Hur complicate the narrative surrounding the handling of classified government information by high-ranking officials.