Former special counsel Robert Hur found himself in the hot seat as he appeared before Congress on Tuesday to discuss his investigation into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. Despite no charges being brought against the president, Hur's characterization of Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" in his report sparked controversy among Democrats.

The House Judiciary Committee hearing witnessed a battle over the political implications of Hur's report, with Republicans attacking Biden for not being prosecuted and Democrats criticizing Hur for his comments about the president's memory. Both sides also drew comparisons to former President Donald Trump's case involving classified documents, which resulted in an indictment last year.

During the hearing, Hur firmly stuck to the contents of his report, refusing to offer personal opinions or judgments on Biden's mental faculties or innocence. When questioned by Republican Representative Scott Fitzgerald about whether he found Biden to be "senile," Hur replied emphatically, stating that such a conclusion did not appear in his report.

Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal engaged in a tense exchange with Hur, arguing that he had "exonerated" Biden. However, Hur swiftly countered her claim, emphasizing that the term "exoneration" did not appear in his report and was not part of his prosecutorial task.

Despite not being involved in the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, Democrats repeatedly questioned Hur about that case. Republican lawmakers, on the other hand, used Trump's indictment to argue for a perceived two-tiered system of justice, highlighting the lack of charges against Biden.

Hur pointed out "several material distinctions" between the Biden and Trump cases in his report. Democratic Representative Madeleine Dean requested Hur to read that section aloud, emphasizing the differences for the record.

Throughout the hearing, lawmakers from both parties seized the opportunity to score political points against Biden and Trump, who are seen as the presumptive nominees for the 2024 presidential election. Questions aimed at Hur often sought to criticize the opposing party's nominee, ranging from insinuations of senility to allegations of attempts to overturn the 2020 election or involvement in hush-money payments.

The Oversight hearing ultimately became a platform for Democrats and Republicans to highlight their respective presumptive nominees' flaws. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan played a press conference where Biden faced questions about his memory, while top Democrat Jerry Nadler displayed a video montage of Trump's misremembered statements.

Despite the focus on the candidates' memory and political theater, the hearing centered around Hur's defense of his report. He reiterated that while evidence showed Biden willfully retained classified materials, it did not meet the threshold of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Hur also addressed the criticism surrounding his mention of Biden's memory, maintaining that his report did not constitute an exoneration.

Tuesday's hearing highlighted the ongoing partisan battles and foreshadowed the intense clash between Biden and Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign. While Hur remained steadfast in his findings, the political discourse surrounding his investigation further fueled the already contentious atmosphere between the two parties.