Garland refutes the criticism that he should have edited the Hur report, labeling it as “ridiculous.”
on Russian interference
The report by special counsel Robert Hur concerning Russian interference
Regarding President Biden’s management of confidential documents, it was stated that the idea of him censoring Hur’s findings was ridiculous.
“The idea that an attorney general would edit or redact or censor the special counsel’s explanation for why the special counsel reached the decision the special counsel did — that’s absurd,” Garland said at the Justice Department on Thursday, his first public comments since Hur released his report in February.
His remarks are significant because Garland, a former judge, hardly responds to his detractors publicly. Instead, he usually states that he would rather allow the Justice Department’s actions to speak for themselves.
Mr. Hur began a year-long inquiry when classified documents were found in Mr. Biden’s house and workplace, dating back to his time as vice president and senator. In his findings, Mr. Hur determined that there was no basis for pressing criminal charges, but he did criticize the president’s organization of records. He also mentioned that a jury would probably perceive the president as an “elderly man with good intentions but a faulty memory.”
I wrote letters to Hur and Garland to express my disapproval of the portrayal of the president’s memory.
In a letter dated February 7th, White House advisor Edward Siskel and President Trump’s personal attorney Bob Bauer expressed concerns to the attorney general about certain statements made by Hur, citing violations of Justice Department guidelines and the use of “derogatory” language as unwarranted and baseless.
A senior staff member at the Justice Department dismissed Mr. Biden’s legal team’s concerns, stating on behalf of Garland that the sections in question were not excessive or unfairly biased.
The
A written record of Hur’s interview in October.
The release of the conversation between Mr. Biden and Hur occurred shortly after.testified before Congress
In the beginning of this month, more information was shared about the five-hour discussion. Although Mr. Biden had some trouble remembering certain dates and finding certain words, he also remembered a lot of specific details from years ago.
Hur assured lawmakers that Garland did not impede his efforts, allowing him to carry out an impartial and extensive investigation.
The attorney general announced on Thursday that he had promised to make public the reports of every special counsel selected while he was in office. This includes the ongoing investigation by special counsel Jack Smith into former President Donald Trump, in accordance with department guidelines and rules.
Addressing concerns regarding criticism of his management of the Hur report, Garland stated that he had not received any instruction from the White House to intervene. He also clarified that the president’s intention in nominating him for the position of attorney general was to uphold the autonomy and credibility of the Justice Department.
“He requested that I act as the legal representative for the American public, not just for the president,” stated Garland. “I genuinely trust that was his intention then, and I genuinely trust that remains his intention now.”
Robert Legare
Source: cbsnews.com