(NewsNation) — Special counsel Robert Hur is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to answer questions about his federal investigation involving President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Hur was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as special counsel in January 2023 following an initial discovery of classified records in a Washington office space by Biden staffers.
After a yearlong investigation, Hur released his final report in February, totaling 345 pages and choosing not to recommend any criminal charges against the president. Hur said it would be difficult to convict Biden because the president would likely present himself to a jury as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
Lawmakers have zeroed in on that description, with Republicans using it to make the case that Biden should not be reelected. Democrats have accused Hur of issuing an inappropriate report and commentary about Biden’s age.
“Republican lawyer Robert Hur couldn’t find any real wrongdoing, so he broke with Justice Department guidance and decided to smear the President with inappropriate and inaccurate comments. This hearing tomorrow is a joke, and President Biden is ready to lead,” Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said.
Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who will be a part of the hearing, posted about the president’s age concerns and how no charges were recommended before alleging that former President Donald Trump was held to a different standard.
“Joe Biden ‘willfully retained’ classified documents — but was not charged because he was ‘an elderly man with a poor memory.’ It’s concerning that — 1. that is how the current POTUS is being described 2. a different standard was held for President Trump,” Fry wrote.
In his report, Hur described differences between the Trump and Biden classified documents cases, saying Trump also faces allegations of obstructing justice and enlisting others to destroy evidence and then to lie about it.
Hur will likely face tough questions from both sides during Tuesday’s hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET.