Democratic Attacks on Special Counsel Robert Hur Show Desperation to Protect Biden's Image
Special Counsel Robert Hur faced vicious attacks from Democrats after shedding light on President Joe Biden's biggest political weakness - his age.
Hur's report, the result of a year-long inquiry into Biden's handling of classified files, revealed that the president, at 81 years old, had "willfully" retained classified documents after leaving the vice presidency in 2017. However, Hur stated that he would struggle to secure a conviction due to Biden's advanced age and poor memory, which now, for many Americans, raises questions about his ability to serve as president.
As Hur released his findings, Vice President Kamala Harris immediately launched a full-scale attack on the special counsel, accusing him of being "clearly politically motivated."
Vice President Kamala Harris attacks Special Counsel Robert Hur over Biden's mental decline, says, "The way that the president's demeanor in that report was characterized could not be more wrong on the facts and clearly politically motivated." (FOX News)
This sentiment was echoed by a White House spokesman who deemed the report "inappropriate" and suggested that legal experts shared the same viewpoint. However, experts in the field, including former federal prosecutors and attorneys, have stated that it is not unusual for prosecutors to include personal details in their cases.
Despite the criticisms from Democrats, many experts believe that Hur was justified in commenting on Biden's memory and age.
Steven Tyrell, a corporate attorney and former chief of the US justice department's fraud department, told The Hill that it is crucial for special counsels to explain the basis for their charging decisions. He also commended Hur for including details about Biden's mental state and acuity, as it was a crucial factor in determining his intent.
However, Hur's report has been seized upon by Biden's opponents as further evidence of his inadequacy to serve as president.
As a sitting president on the verge of an election, the pressure on Hur to deliver a fair and comprehensive report was immense. Yet, many experts agree that Hur fulfilled his duties with integrity and professionalism, despite the inevitable backlash that his findings would generate.
President Joe Biden campaign co-chair Chris Coons claims Americans have serious doubts over Biden's mental fitness only because of the media. The media is to blame. (This Week/ABC News)
Former White House counsel under Donald Trump, Ty Cobb, told the BBC that some of the details included in Hur's report were "telling and justifiably included," while others caused him "great pause."
Similarly, former US assistant attorney Renato Mariotti believes that Hur showed "poor judgement" by including so much detail about Biden's memory. Both lawyers maintain respect for Hur, however, and recognize the challenging position he was in.
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