An attorney asserts that individuals involved in the case have requested the opportunity to examine the report before its witness release.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has informed Congress that Special Counsel Robert Hur has completed the investigation into classified documents associated with President Joe Biden. The report, submitted to the Justice Department, awaits a White House review for potential executive privilege before reaching Congress. Garland is committed to making the report as public as possible but has faced concerns about transparency.
Witnesses who cooperated in the case are reportedly pleading with Hur to review portions of the draft before public release. Attorney Michael Bromwich expressed concerns about missing “proper factual context” and criticized the process, emphasizing the need for accurate reporting in this widely anticipated report. Other witnesses’ attorneys echoed the sentiment, highlighting a departure from the past practice where witnesses could review drafts before release.
Hur’s appointment in 2023 followed the discovery of documents at the Penn-Biden Center and in Biden’s Delaware home. The investigation, involving up to 100 officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Hunter Biden, has played out quietly. The president has maintained his cooperation and denied personal wrongdoing.
Contrasting with former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified records, Biden’s legal team cooperated with National Archives officials. While instances of carelessness during Biden’s vice presidency were reportedly uncovered, witnesses suggest the improper removal of classified documents from Biden’s office in 2017 may have been a mistake rather than a criminal act.
The ongoing dispute over witness access to the draft underscores concerns that the report could be critical of Biden without recommending charges. Bromwich, a former Justice Department inspector general, stressed the importance of accurate reporting, citing the dedication of witnesses who cooperated with the investigation.
Despite attempts by Trump to draw an equivalence between their cases, records indicate Biden’s cooperation with National Archives officials, distinguishing it from Trump’s withholding of classified records. The report’s expected wide readership further emphasizes the need for factual accuracy.
As the White House awaits the privilege review’s completion, the unfolding situation raises questions about transparency, fairness, and the potential impact on Biden. The public is keenly anticipating the report, hoping for a comprehensive and unbiased examination of the classified documents associated with the president’s past roles.
In the coming days, as the White House completes its review, the nation awaits a crucial moment in transparency and accountability, hoping for a fair and thorough presentation of the findings that respects the rights and expectations of those involved.