Special counsel Robert Hur slaps back at claims from Adam Schiff and Democrats he mentioned Biden’s memory to help TRUMP and to get a spot in his White House because he knew he would spark a firestorm

Special counsel Robert Hur defended himself Tuesday against criticism from House Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff, over his decision to include broad statements about President Joe Biden’s memory in his report of classified documents.

Hur testified before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigation into whether Biden mishandled classified documents and his decision not to prosecute the sitting president.

His report, released in early February, said Biden had “diminished faculties” and that a jury would find him a “sympathetic, well-meaning older man with a poor memory.”

Schiff, the leading California Senate candidate, and other Democrats blasted Hur for including that information in the report, claiming he knew it would hurt Biden politically and create a firestorm.

“You don’t unnecessarily add language that you know will be useful in a political campaign,” Schiff said. ‘You weren’t born yesterday. You understood exactly what you were doing. It was a choice. You certainly didn’t have to use that language.’

Hur was appointed by former President Donald Trump, who is running to retake the White House, and told lawmakers he is a Republican.

But he walked back claims that he included statements about Biden’s memory to hurt the Democratic president in the November election.

In Hur’s opening statement, he said he was not discrediting the president, something Schiff objected to when it was the California Democrat’s turn to question the witness.

“I want to refer back to your opening statement where you said that in your report you were not discrediting the president, but obviously you were discrediting him. You belittled him in terms that you knew would have maximum political impact,” Schiff alleged.

“You understood that the report would be public, right?” Schiff asked.

Hur said what he “understood” was the regulation that “required me to write a confidential report for the attorney general explaining my decision.”

“And that’s what I did, Congressman,” Hur said.

Hur said it was up to Biden-appointed Attorney General Merrick Garland to determine whether the report would be made public.

Schiff continued to pressure him on the matter until Hur added, “It is my understanding from the Attorney General’s public comments that he would make public as much of my report as he could, consistent with legal requirements and the DOJ Policy.”

The California Democrat also denounced Hurt, saying what he wrote was “deeply detrimental to the interests of the president.”

“You must have understood the impact of your decision to go beyond the specifics of a particular document and into the general, to your own personal, biased subjective opinion of the president,” Schiff said. “One that you knew would be amplified by his political opponent, one that you knew would influence a political campaign.”

“You had to understand that and you did it anyway, and you did it anyway,” the California congressman said.

Hur replied: “What you are suggesting is that I should provide a different version of my report that would be suitable for public release.”

“What the rules say, Mr. Hur, what the rules say is that you do not unnecessarily do things that will harm the subject of an investigation if you refuse to prosecute,” Schiff shot back.

Schiff also pointed out that witnesses often tell investigators they don’t remember scenarios.

“There’s nothing more common – you know this, I know this – there’s nothing more common for a witness of any age to be asked about events that are years old and say I can’t remember anything about them,” said the California congressman. ‘They are indeed instructed by their lawyer to do that if they have questions about it.’

“You understood that, you made a choice, that was a political choice, it was the wrong choice,” Schiff said.

Hur clapped back when the congressman’s time expired.

“What you are suggesting is that I shape, sanitize and omit parts of my reasoning and explanations to the attorney general for political reasons,” Hur said.

“No, I’m suggesting that you don’t shape your report for political reasons, which you have done,” Schiff said.

“That didn’t happen, Congressman, that didn’t happen,” Hur responded.

Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson also asked Hur if his personal politics played a role in the final report.

Johnson asked Hur if he was a member of the Conservation Federalist Society, but Hur said he was not.

“But you’re a Republican, aren’t you?” the Democratic congressman asked.

Hur said yes.

“And you’re doing everything you can to get President Trump re-elected so you can be appointed a federal judge or maybe some other position at the Department of Justice, right? Johnson thought.

Hur said no.

“Congressman, I have no such ambitions, I can assure you,” Hur replied. ‘And I can tell you that party politics has no place in my work.’