Staff Reports
The Washington Examiner reports that the House GOP members are not letting up on their quest to uncover the truth about President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents. They are pushing for special counsel Robert Hur to testify on Capitol Hill, hoping to shed light on Biden’s “poor memory” and any resulting national security risks.
Republicans want Hur to testify before Congress as next step in hammering Biden on disastrous report https://t.co/BmMmnbKJuW https://t.co/BmMmnbKJuW
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 13, 2024
Hur’s recent report painted Biden as an elderly man with diminished mental capabilities, but it stopped short of recommending criminal charges. This has ignited a firestorm in the House GOP, with top Republicans demanding access to the transcript of Hur’s interview with Biden last year.
In a bid to keep the focus on Biden’s mental fitness, House GOP leaders are gearing up for a prolonged effort involving hearings, subpoenas, and potentially Hur’s testimony. They aim to delve into how Biden may have compromised national security and the extent of his mental acuity during the probe.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has indicated that special counsels usually testify at the conclusion of their reports, so the pressure to get Hur before Congress is mounting.
The Washington Examiner also highlights the potential impact of Hur’s testimony on Biden’s reelection bid. With voter concerns about Biden’s age and ability to serve another term, the Democrats are on edge, even as the White House attempts to downplay claims of Biden’s mental incompetence.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced a barrage of questions on the matter, dismissing Hur as a “Republican prosecutor” who should not have commented on Biden’s mental state. While the White House has promised Biden’s physical examination ahead of the 2024 election, it has not committed to allowing Dr. Kevin O’Connor to field questions from the press about Biden’s health.
If Hur does appear to testify, House Democrats may seek to discredit his findings due to his ties to former President Donald Trump, who nominated him. However, prominent Democrats had previously praised Hur as a “distinguished prosecutor” confirmed on a “bipartisan basis.”
In a letter from Reps. James Comer, Jim Jordan, and Jason Smith, House Republicans set a deadline for the Justice Department to provide the transcript, showing their determination to uncover the truth about Biden’s actions.
The prospective hearing would likely delve into the national security risks posed by Biden’s document handling and tie into the GOP’s ongoing impeachment inquiry into Biden and his family’s alleged foreign business dealings. The Justice Department’s handling of the investigation would also come under scrutiny, with Republicans decrying Hur’s report as emblematic of a “two-tiered system of justice.”
However, the report highlights the potential risk for Republicans, as Hur’s testimony could inadvertently shift the focus to former President Trump’s own legal troubles, drawing attention to his “potential criminal guilt.”
It is clear from the Washington Examiner’s coverage that the House GOP is committed to keeping the spotlight on Biden’s mental acuity and national security risks, with Hur’s testimony looming as a critical moment in their pursuit of the truth.
