House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan grilled ex-Special Counsel Robert Hur on President Biden’s decision to withhold classified documents. Hur acknowledged that he found evidence suggesting that “pride and money” were strong motivations for Biden to retain classified records, as he intended to use them for his memoir that earned him $8 million. During a public hearing on Tuesday, Jordan questioned Hur about why Biden knowingly retained and disclosed classified material. Jordan pointed out Biden’s extensive experience in politics and knowledge of the rules regarding safeguarding classified documents. Hur’s report confirmed that Biden was well aware of the measures taken to protect classified information. However, when pressed on why Biden broke these rules, Hur admitted that the report did not explicitly address the president’s exact motives. Jordan countered by referencing page 231 of the report, where Hur stated that Biden had “strong motivations to ignore the proper procedures for safeguarding the classified information in his notebooks.” Jordan argued that Biden’s motive was to write a book, as he had already started meeting with a ghostwriter while serving as vice president. The congressman highlighted that Biden received an $8 million book advance and broke the rules to share classified information with the ghostwriter. Jordan emphasized that Biden’s motive was not just money but also ego, stating that pride and money were the oldest motives in the book. Hur confirmed that the report supported these assessments. The report also noted that Biden’s actions posed a risk to national security when he shared classified information with the ghostwriter. Hur testified that the ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, had audio recordings of conversations with Biden where he read information from classified records. However, once the special counsel was appointed to investigate the matter, Zwonitzer deleted these files. Jordan pointed out that the ghostwriter attempted to destroy the evidence, highlighting the significance of this revelation. Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Digital, Channel, and FOX Business. Stay updated on the 2024 campaign trail and get exclusive interviews and political content by subscribing to her newsletter.
