UPDATE - US attorney general appoints special counsel to probe Biden documents matter

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By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday the appointment of a special counsel to investigate President Joe Biden's classified documents matter.

The appointment of Robert Hur came after the discovery of two batches of classified documents from Biden while he was vice president.

Garland said he notified designated members of each house of Congress of the appointment.

He said he signed an order appointing Hur to the matter, which he said authorizes him to investigate if any person or entity violated the law.

The White House said earlier that more classified documents were found at Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware -- most in a storage space in the garage.

Special Counsel to Biden, Richard Sauber, said Biden’s lawyers searched his Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, residences after classified documents were found at the Penn Biden Center in November.

Biden's attorneys found the first batch of about 10 documents at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington, D.C. in a locked closet as they were preparing to vacate the office space and handed them to the National Archives and Records Administration.

They included documents containing US intelligence memos and briefing materials dated between 2013 and 2016 related to Ukraine, Iran and the UK, a source told CNN.

Biden said he was surprised to learn classified documents from his time as vice president were found at the office of his think tank, adding that his team “immediately” handed them to the National Archives.

- Robert Hur

Garland said Hur has a long and distinguished career as a prosecutor.

In 2003, he joined the Justice Department's criminal division and worked on counterterrorism, corporate fraud and appellate matters.

"From 2007 until 2014, Mr. Hur served as an Assistant US Attorney for the District of Maryland, where he prosecuted matters ranging from violent crime to financial fraud," said Garland.

He rejoined the agency in 2017 as the principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. In 2018. He was confirmed to serve as a US Attorney for the District of Maryland.

"As US attorney, he supervised some of the department's more important national security, public corruption and other high profile matters. I will ensure that Mr. Hur receives all the resources he needs to conduct his work," added Garland.