In a recent hearing before the House judiciary committee, former special counsel Robert Hur defended his assessment of President Joe Biden's memory and its relevance to his investigation. Hur emphasized that his descriptions in the report were "necessary, accurate, and fair" given his task of determining whether the president willfully disclosed national defense information.

Hur explained that assessing the president's state of mind was crucial to determining whether he intentionally violated any laws. As a result, Hur had to consider Biden's memory and overall mental state, and how they would be perceived in a potential criminal trial.

"I assessed the relevance of the president's memory based on what the evidence shows and what jurors would perceive and believe," Hur stated. He further clarified that his explanation was not meant to sanitize or unfairly disparage the president, but rather to fulfill his obligation to the attorney general by providing a comprehensive assessment with reasoning.

While Hur's investigation did not result in charges against President Biden, he explicitly stated that it did not exonerate him either. Despite his role in the Trump administration, Hur refused to rule out accepting a position in a potential second Trump administration.

The transcript of Hur's interview with Biden revealed that the president repeatedly denied any intentional retention of classified information after leaving the vice-presidency. However, he did display some uncertainty about specific dates and admitted unfamiliarity with the paper trail of certain sensitive documents.

In other news, Republican Representative Ken Buck of Colorado announced his decision to leave Congress at the end of next week, putting the GOP's slim majority in the House at further risk. Buck's departure raised concerns among certain party members, with Representative Pat Fallon calling it "very surprising" and "alarming."

Buck had previously stated that he would not seek reelection, but his decision to leave before the end of his term came as a surprise. He cited the dysfunction of Congress and criticized the Republican party for perpetuating baseless claims of election fraud.

As the House judiciary committee hearing came to a close after almost five hours, the Biden campaign expressed optimism about Hur's testimony. A campaign official stated that they were feeling positive about the defense of President Biden's memory and its relevance in the investigation.

Former special counsel Hur has been released following the conclusion of the hearing. The reactions to Buck's announcement varied, with some expressing concern over the potential impact on the GOP's majority in the House.

These recent developments highlight the ongoing political landscape and the scrutiny surrounding President Biden's memory in relation to his handling of classified information.