Attorney General Merrick Garland recently faced questions from reporters regarding the language used in Special Counsel Robert Hur's report on President Biden's memory. The report, which looked into the president's handling of classified documents, described Biden as an 'elderly man with a poor memory.'
During a DOJ press conference, Garland dismissed suggestions that he should have edited or censored the report, calling such ideas 'absurd.' He emphasized that it would be inappropriate for an attorney general to interfere with the special counsel's explanation for their decisions.
The White House reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the report, with sources indicating that Garland did not demand edits to the sections referencing Biden's memory issues. However, the Justice Department stood by the report, stating that it complied with legal requirements and department policy.
The controversy stemmed from a Politico report alleging that President Biden and his advisers believed Hur's descriptions of Biden's memory were excessive and misleading. The administration reportedly placed some blame on Garland for not reining in the special counsel's language.
Robert Hur was appointed as the special counsel over a year ago to investigate President Biden's handling of classified documents, a probe that escalated into a full investigation after additional documents were discovered at Biden's Delaware home.
The report's characterization of Biden as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory' drew criticism from the White House and liberal media outlets. Despite the backlash, Garland defended the report's content and reiterated that it was not within his purview to alter the special counsel's findings.
