Washington (AFP) - Robert Hur promised a "fair, impartial, and dispassionate" investigation when the veteran prosecutor was appointed special counsel a year ago to look into allegations that Joe Biden mishandled classified documents.
Hur, in his final report released this week, absolved Biden of any criminal wrongdoing, but ignited a political firestorm with his disparaging comments on the president's mental state.
Hur's remarks about Biden's poor memory in his nearly 400-page report were attacked as "gratuitous and inappropriate" by the White House and seized upon by Republicans to push claims that the 81-year-old president is "unfit" to hold office.
Hur, a Republican, was named by Attorney General Merrick Garland in January 2023 to look into Biden's alleged mishandling of classified materials after serving as vice president to Barack Obama.
Announcing the appointment of a veteran of the Donald Trump administration to carry out the delicate probe into a sitting Democratic president, Garland said he was "confident Mr Hur will carry out his responsibilities in an even-handed and urgent manner."
"I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgment," Hur said in a statement at the time.
"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."
A graduate of prestigious Harvard College and Stanford Law School, Hur worked as a law clerk to former US Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist.
He served as an assistant US attorney in Maryland from 2007 to 2014 and as a senior aide to then-Justice Department deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein from 2017 to 2018.
In comments to The Washington Post at the time, Rosenstein welcomed the appointment of his former deputy to look into Biden's handling of classified documents.
"Rob understands the need to ignore the politics and focus on what matters," Rosenstein said. "He's not going to be influenced by partisan political considerations."
In 2017, Hur was appointed by Republican president Trump to be the US attorney for Maryland. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate and served as the state's chief prosecutor until Biden took office.
In his report released on Thursday, Hur said Biden had "willfully retained" classified documents but the "evidence is not sufficient to convict" and no criminal charges should be brought.
Hur also described Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" who allegedly could not remember when his son Beau died or the dates of his vice presidency.
Biden defended himself in a surprise appearance before reporters on Thursday, saying "my memory is fine," and Vice President Kamala Harris attacked Hur's comments on Friday as "clearly politically motivated" ahead of the November election expected to pit Biden against Trump once again.
