CNN host Jake Tapper reminded Sen. Adam Schiff of his past harsh criticism of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on President Biden, which Tapper argued was “pretty accurate.” During a segment on Tapper’s show, Tapper pointed out Schiff’s earlier remarks about the Justice Department, noting that while Schiff had blamed Republicans for undermining the DOJ, he himself had also been critical of it. Tapper specifically referenced a Thursday segment where Schiff had questioned President-elect Donald Trump’s Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, over her claim that most Americans no longer trust the Justice Department. Tapper pointed out that Schiff’s criticism of the DOJ, along with Biden’s own harsh assessment of the investigation into his son, Hunter, contradicted the claims he made about Republicans.
Tapper went on to remind Schiff of his vocal criticism of Robert Hur, the special counsel investigating the Biden matter, especially for his comments about Biden’s mental state. Tapper stated that Hur’s observation, that Biden might appear to a jury as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” was, in fact, accurate. Schiff had previously claimed Hur’s assessment was inappropriate for a prosecutorial memo, accusing Hur of making a personal observation for political reasons. Tapper, however, clarified that Hur’s statement was based on his interactions with Biden and not a personal attack. He further explained that Hur’s comments were not only necessary for explaining why Biden would not be prosecuted but also aligned with Hur’s findings in his final report.
In his defense, Schiff explained that he criticized Hur’s observation because it went beyond what was needed for the investigation, claiming it was politically motivated. Schiff argued that such subjective language should not be included in a prosecutorial report. However, Tapper pushed back, pointing out that Hur’s conclusion, based on the president’s own responses, was a reasonable assessment.
Schiff then blamed Republicans for a “multi-year campaign” aimed at discrediting the Justice Department as the “deep state.” Tapper briefly explained the context of Hur’s comments before moving on. “I think Robert Hur would say he needed to explain why he wasn’t going to prosecute President Biden for what he thought was a violation of the law,” Tapper said, adding further context to Hur’s decision not to charge Biden despite his conclusion that Biden had violated the law.
Hur’s final report concluded that Biden knowingly kept classified materials but recommended no charges due to Biden’s diminished mental capacity. Hur wrote that Biden would likely present himself to a jury as a sympathetic, “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Despite Schiff’s criticism, Hur defended his actions and his conclusions. Schiff had previously slammed Hur during a House hearing in March, accusing him of writing a report that disparaged the president and could have political repercussions. He argued that Hur must have known the political impact of his words and the potential influence on the campaign.
Hur stood by his final report, despite criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans had attacked him for not bringing charges against Biden, even though he concluded that the president had committed a crime by mishandling classified materials. Hur’s refusal to prosecute Biden sparked ongoing debates and controversy around the handling of the investigation.
