Attorney General Merrick Garland has communicated to congressional leaders that special counsel Robert Hur has concluded his report on President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents post his vice presidency.
In a letter, Garland assured that there were no instances of inappropriate conduct found on the part of Hur, and the report was submitted to him on February 5. While it appears unlikely that charges will be brought against anyone as a result of the investigation, Garland emphasized his commitment to transparency.
“I am committed to making as much of the Special Counsel’s report public as possible, consistent with legal requirements and Department policy,” Garland stated.
He pledged to provide Congress with the report, its appendices, and the accompanying counsel’s letter following the conclusion of the White House’s privilege review. The investigation centered around the handling of classified documents during President Biden’s transition from vice president.
In the final days of his vice presidency in January 2017, classified documents that should have been sent to the National Archives and Records Administration ended up in two storage facilities before eventually reaching a private office used by Mr. Biden. Some classified material even made its way to President Biden’s garage in Wilmington, Delaware.
Despite searches at the president’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and at the University of Delaware, no additional documents with classified markings were found.
The discovery of classified material at the Penn Biden Center prompted the appointment of special counsel Robert Hur, a Republican and the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Maryland, by Attorney General Garland.
The investigation did not involve the use of a grand jury to hear witness testimony, and Garland’s commitment to transparency in releasing the report underscores the administration’s dedication to accountability and adherence to legal standards.