AG Garland names Robert Hur as special counsel in Biden classified documents matter
Last edited Thu Jan 12, 2023, 03:55 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: ABC News
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday announced he has named former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert Hur as a special counsel in the Biden classified documents matter. Hur, who has been appointed by former President Donald Trump as U.S. Attorney, is currently a litigation partner at a Washington, D.C. law firm.
"I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgment," Hur said in a statement released by the Justice Department. "I intend to follow the facts swiftly and thoroughly, without fear or favor, and will honor the trust placed in me to perform this service." Garland had tasked U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch with conducting a preliminary review of the matter and Thursday he said Lausch had recommended a special counsel be named.
"On January 5th, 2023, Mr. Lausch briefed me on the results of his initial investigation and advised me that further investigation by a special counsel was warranted. Based on Mr. Lausch's initial investigation, I concluded that, under the special counsel regulations, it was in the public interest to appoint a special counsel," Garland said. "In the days since, while Mr. Lausch continued the investigation, the department identified Mr. Hur for appointment as special counsel."
A senior Justice Department official said, "This is not a decision [Garland] made lightly but the regulations could not be more clear that based on the facts that resulted from U.S.Attorney Lausch's initial investigation an appointment of a special counsel in this manner is required." "This is a textbook case of what is required under the regulations," the official said.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ag-garland-expected-address-biden-classified-documents-matter/story?id=96391629
Source updated.
Previous articles/headlines/link -
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday he was appointing Robert Hur to serve as a special counsel to review classified material found in President Joe Biden's Delaware residence and a Washington office he used. Hur, now a lawyer at a Washington, D.C. firm, was the U.S. Attorney for Maryland during the Trump administration, and is also the former principal counselor to former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw the Mueller investigation.
Garland said Hur's appointment "authorizes him to investigate whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with this matter." Garland said the move was necessary because of the "extraordinary circumstances" involved. "I am confident Mr. Hur will carry out his responsibilities in an even-handed and urgent manner," he said. In a statement, Hur said "I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgment. I intend to follow the facts swiftly and thoroughly, without fear or favor, and will honor the trust placed in me to perform this service."
The move came after the White House acknowledged publicly on Thursday that classified Obama administration documents were found in one of Biden's Delaware homes. This came after confirming Monday that documents had been found in a Washington office. Garland said DOJ was told about the documents in Biden's home on Dec. 20th. Biden's lawyer informed DOJ Thursday morning that one other document had been found in the home, the AG said.
Garland had previously asked John R. Lausch, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and a holdover appointed by former President Donald Trump, to review how classified material ended up in a locked closet in a Washington, D.C. office that had been used Biden after he left office in 2017, a source familiar with the matter toldNBC Newsearlier this week. Garland said Lausch briefed him on his findings on Jan. 5, and "advised me that further investigation by a special counsel was warranted." Garland said he agreed but did not elaborate further.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-says-classified-documents-found-bidens-garage-delaware-rcna65509
The White House acknowledged on Thursday that classified Obama administration documents were found in one of Biden's Delaware homes. This came after confirming Monday that documents had been found in a Washington office. Garland had previously asked John R. Lausch, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and a holdover appointed by former President Donald Trump, to review how classified material ended up in a locked closet in a Washington, D.C. office that had been used Biden after he left office in 2017, a source familiar with the matter toldNBC Newsearlier this week.
Multiple aides who worked for Biden in the final days of the Obama administration have already been interviewed by federal law enforcement officials, two people familiar with the matter told NBC Thursday. In a statement released Thursday, Richard Sauber, a counsel to Biden, said the additional documents were found during a search of Biden's two Delaware homes. He did not say how many there were or what level of classification. No documents were found in Biden's Rehoboth Beach residence.
In brief remarks to reporters, the president said the documents were found in "storage areas and file cabinets in my home, in my personal library." Asked why he'd had classified documents next to his Corvette in his garage, Biden said, "My Corvette's in a locked garage. It's not like they're sitting out on a street." He then added that "people know I take classified documents and classified material seriously."
Original article -
Garland had previously asked John R. Lausch, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and a holdover appointed by former President Donald Trump, to review how classified material ended up in a locked closet in a Washington, D.C. office that had been used Biden after he left office in 2017, a source familiar with the matter toldNBC Newsearlier this week.
Multiple aides who worked for Biden in the final days of the Obama administration have already been interviewed by federal law enforcement officials, two people familiar with the matter told NBC Thursday.
In a statement released Thursday, Richard Sauber, a counsel to Biden, said the additional documents were found during a search of Biden's two Delaware homes. He did not say how many there were or what level of classification. No documents were found in Biden's Rehoboth Beach residence.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I understand that the story needs to be covered, but the media is talking it to death and once again, there is absolutely nothing else going on in the world. 
Now for the rest of the day, every show will cover the same story and then wonder why people are changing the channel.
"Hur, now a lawyer at a Washington, D.C. firm, was the U.S. Attorney for Maryland during the Trump administration, and is also the former principal counselor to former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw the Mueller investigation."
Directly from article.
Because if the AG that he appointed is such an obvious republican operative that random internet posters can see it, then he must be stupid.
OTH maybe Biden is smart, knows what is going on in his admin and we shouldn't jump to conclusions every single time...
"Hur, now a lawyer at a Washington, D.C. firm, was the U.S. Attorney for Maryland during the Trump administration, and is also the former principal counselor to former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw the Mueller investigation."
I really really do.
I’m not sure how to console you because, at times, I feel exactly the same way.
When the feelings get to this point, I just turn off the world and dive into one of my hobbies. Escapism is all we have left. I’m powerless to do much about all the stuff on a national or global scale. I recycle, I drive a fuel efficient car, I am careful with water use, I reuse stuff, I watch my spending, eat pretty good, try to exercise, I vote in each election. In a nut shell, I try to be a good citizen and not a burden on our country.
I feel helpless when I see all the crap happening over which I have zero control. Stuff that can and will touch my life despite my efforts to avoid the bad outcomes. It’s anxiety producing. But we are not alone. Remember that.
I feel the same way as you.
Try to find some comfort to ease the feelings now if you can. At least for awhile. 🙋🏼♀️☹️🫂
