‘Congressman, Excuse Me’: Laura Coates and Jim Jordan Argue Point They’re Both Right About

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and CNN’s Laura Coates argued two sides of the same coin while talking about the investigation into President Joe Biden’s retention of classified documents.

Former Special Counsel Robert Hur testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday after he issued a report explaining his decision not to charge the president. In late 2022 and early 2023, lawyers for Biden found government material at Biden’s home and at a think tank where he spent time after leaving the vice presidency. The documents date from his time as vice president and as a senator. Upon discovery, Biden’s lawyers notified the federal government, which arranged for the material’s return.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has been criminally charged with willfully retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s attempt to retrieve them. After a lawyer for Trump told the Department of Justice no classified material was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, the FBI executed a search warrant in August 2022 and found more documents. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hur, a Republican, was appointed by Attorney Merrick Garland in 2023 to probe Biden’s retention of government documents. Previously, Hur served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland after he was appointed to the point by Trump in 2018.

On Tuesday night, Coates and Jordan jousted over who appointed Hur – and both were correct:

COATES: [H]e himself, in response to questions today, Mr. Hur said that he did not feel restricted. He did not feel interfered with. He didn’t think there was any undue influence. He had the resources he needed to fully investigate this. He was previously a Trump appointee. And he has made statements that colleagues like Adam Schiff had called gratuitous about his memory. I do wonder though–

JORDAN: Laura, Trump appointee? He was appointed by Merrick Garland. I mean, Merrick Garland, the–

COATES: Congressman, excuse me. He was appointed for this by Merrick Garland. In the past–

JORDAN: That’s what matters!

[CROSSTALK]

JORDAN: But that’s what matters. The attorney general for Joe Biden – Merrick Garland – appointed him as the special counsel. That’s what matters. So, ok, the Democrats, they’re gonna get mad at Robert Hur and say all the things they said in the hearing today” He was appointed by the democrat attorney general for goodness sake, and he found what he found. And he didn’t prosecute for goodness sake – again, I think, highlighting this double standard.

Elsewhere in the interview, Jordan became defensive when Coates brought up Trump’s mental lapses.

Watch above via CNN.