Committee Chairman Jim Jordan pounded his gavel shortly earlier than 3 p.m. ET, signaling an finish to Robert Hur’s testimony after almost 5 hours on the witness desk.
Hur departed the listening to room after withstanding pointed assaults from throughout the political spectrum: Democrats accused him of together with gratuitous language about Biden’s psychological acuity, whereas Republicans slammed his determination to not carry felony expenses.
Although Hur at occasions grew animated as he defended his work, he remained measured and disciplined all through his testimony.
Former particular counsel Robert Hur wouldn’t particularly weigh in on whether or not or not Congress ought to have entry to audio recordings associated to his report when pressed by Republican committee Chairman Jim Jordan.
Jordan immediately requested Hur: “Is there any cause why you possibly can see why the American folks and their representatives in United States Congress shouldn’t have entry to these tapes?”
However Hur wouldn’t say both approach, and as a substitute responded by saying that his report did take note of the audio recordings. It was unclear which recordings Hur was referencing; given the best way Jordan requested the query, it might have been relating to audio of Biden’s interview with Hur or audio of Biden’s conversations together with his ghostwriter.
“Chairman, what I can let you know is that my evaluation that went into my conclusions that I described, my report was primarily based not solely on the transcript, it was primarily based on the entire proof, together with the audio recordings,” Hur stated.
Jordan then requested Hur once more, saying if he thought the audio recordings had been “priceless proof” for his report then “should not the USA Congress have entry to that very same data?”
“It isn’t for me to weigh into what data Congress ought to or shouldn’t have” replied Hur, whereas reiterating that he believed “the audio recordings had been a part of the proof, in fact, that I thought-about in coming to my conclusions.”
In a notable change, Hur took subject with Democrats’ characterization that his report cleared President Biden of felony wrongdoing, testifying that he “didn’t exonerate him.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., questioning Hur about his report, said that the “prolonged, costly and impartial investigation resulted in a whole exoneration of President Joe Biden.”
Hur, seeking to right Jayapal’s characterization, responded by saying, “I want to return and be sure that I pay attention to a phrase that you simply use: Exoneration,” he stated. “That isn’t a phrase I used within the report and never a part of my task–“
Jayapal then jumped in and started talking over Hur, as she tried to argue that Hur’s report certainly did “exonerate” Biden.
However Hur once more pushed again, rapidly replying: “I didn’t exonerate him, that phrase doesn’t seem within the report.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., learn an excerpt from the press convention that President Biden convened the evening Hur’s report was made public — highlighting Biden’s declare that he “didn’t share labeled data” together with his ghostwriter.
“That is not true, is it, Mr. Hur?” Gaetz requested.
“That’s inconsistent with the findings primarily based on the proof in my report,” Hur stated.
When Gaetz known as it a lie, “as common folks would say,” Hur laughed.