The
Democratic president's interview was voluntary and conducted
over two days, concluding on Monday, said Ian Sams, a
spokesperson for the White House counsel's office.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in January named Hur as
special counsel to look into the improper storage of classified
documents at Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, home and at a
Washington think tank office set up for Biden after his
2009-2017 vice presidency.
Such special counsels are appointed to handle sensitive cases -
usually involving political figures or allegations of serious
wrongdoing by the government - and have more independence than
is usually afforded to federal investigators to decide whether
to bring charges.
Hur's interviews with Biden suggest the investigation, which has
proceeded quietly, may have advanced to its final stages. Biden
has said he was surprised by the discovery of classified
materials and expected it would eventually be deemed
inconsequential. His team said they have cooperated with the
investigation.
"As we have said from the beginning, the President and the White
House are cooperating with this investigation, and as it has
been appropriate, we have provided relevant updates publicly,
being as transparent as we can consistent with protecting and
preserving the integrity of the investigation," Sams said in a
statement.
The White House declined to comment further, referring questions
to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to
a request for comment.
A wider-ranging inquiry into handling of classified documents
has been directed at Biden's main Republican potential rival for
the 2024 elections, Republican former President Donald Trump.
Trump was criminally indicted in that case, one of several legal
cases against the former president, with the federal documents
case in Miami set to go to trial in May. Trump has denied
wrongdoing.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Kanishka
Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler, Leslie Adler and
Gerry Doyle)
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