Special counsel report on Biden a ‘partisan hit job’, Democrats say

Others raised spectre of Comey, FBI director who declined to indict Hillary Clinton in 2016 but publicly cast doubt on her character

Joe Biden, senior aides and political observers strongly criticised the special counsel, Robert Hur, for extensively discussing the president's age and allegedly fading memory in his report on Biden's retention of classified information from his time as a senator and as vice-president - which did not produce an indictment.

Hur, who Donald Trump appointed US attorney for Maryland, could not refrain from investigative excess", said Bob Bauer, Biden's personal counsel.