During a recent hearing, Rep. Deborah Ross questioned Robert Hur regarding the presence of classified materials at President Biden's various locations. Hur's report repeatedly cited innocent explanations for the presence of these documents, which he acknowledged he could not refute.
One explanation discussed was that a member of the president's staff inadvertently included classified documents in sets sent to locations like the Penn Biden Center and the University of Delaware. Hur confirmed the likelihood of this scenario. Additionally, he noted that the presence of classified documents in the president's garage, surrounded by household items, suggested unintentional storage rather than willful intent.
Hur highlighted that President Biden had staff responsible for handling classified documents during his time as vice president and president. He emphasized that it was entirely possible for the president to be unaware of some documents remaining in his home after his vice presidency ended in 2017.
Furthermore, Hur pointed out the president's cooperation with the investigation as evidence of his lack of criminal intent. Biden self-reported the presence of Afghanistan documents in his Delaware garage, consented to searches of his home and other locations, and participated in a lengthy interview with investigators.
Hur's report suggested that a powerful individual like President Biden, who cooperated with authorities and provided evidence willingly, would not likely have knowingly retained classified documents illegally. He indicated that such cooperation could be viewed favorably by reasonable jurors, potentially swaying opinions towards the president's innocence.
Overall, Rep. Ross highlighted these points to underscore the argument for President Biden's innocence in the handling of classified materials, emphasizing his cooperation and lack of criminal intent throughout the investigation.
