Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate whether any laws were broken in the handling of classified information at President Biden’s home and personal office.
“As I’ve said before, I strongly believe that the normal processes of this department can handle all investigations with integrity. But under the regulations, the extraordinary circumstances here require the appointment of a special counsel for this matter,” Garland said.
Who is Robert Hur?
He is a prosecutor who joined the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in 2003. He worked on cases involving counterterrorism, corporate fraud and appellate matters. From 2007 to 2014 he served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland where he prosecuted cases involving violent crime and financial fraud.
After that job, Hur left for the private sector. He returned to public service in 2017 and was appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. attorney for Maryland in 2018. While performing that job, he supervised cases regarding national security and public corruption.
The Stanford educated attorney most recently worked in the private sector as a partner for Gibson and Dunn in Washington D.C. He is a member of the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland.
“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,” Hur said in a statement.
Attorney General Garland said Hur is authorized to investigate whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with the documents.
“Mr. Hur has a long and distinguished career as a prosecutor,” Garland said. “I will ensure that Mr. Hur receives all the resources he needs to conduct his work.”
President Biden admitted Thursday that more documents were found inside his Wilmington home, including those found locked in his garage next to his Corvette.
“People know I take classified documents and classified material seriously. I also said we’re cooperating fully and completely with the Justice Department’s review,” Biden said.
In November, Garland appointed career prosecutor Jack Smith to investigate former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents that were found at his Mar-a-Lago home. Smith is also reviewing whether anyone unlawfully interfered in the peaceful transfer of power from the Trump to Biden administration.
