By Kashmira Konduparty
Joe Biden, the former president, has filed a case against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop the release of audio recordings and transcripts tied to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, according to a report by NPR.
The lawsuit was filed in Washington’s federal court after the DOJ said it plans to release recordings of interviews Biden gave to his ghostwriter between 2016 and 2017. The materials are expected to be turned over to the conservative Heritage Foundation and the House Judiciary Committee by June 15.
Biden’s legal team argued in court filings that the recordings contain private and deeply personal conversations that took place in his home while he was working on his 2017 memoir, “Promise Me, Dad.” The book focused on the illness and death of his son, Beau Biden and his decision-making about his political future.
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According to the lawsuit, releasing the audio would violate Biden’s privacy rights and undermine protections meant for individuals cooperating with federal investigations. “Every American, including a sitting or former Vice President, has a right to privacy in the personal conversations he has within his own home,” his attorneys wrote.
Biden’s lawyers also accused the House Judiciary Committee of attempting to bypass federal disclosure rules in its effort to obtain the recordings.
The dispute stems from Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents after leaving office as vice president. Hur’s 2024 report concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Biden criminally. However, the report sparked political backlash after Hur described Biden as “an elderly man with a poor memory.”
Republicans have continued pushing for the release of the recordings, arguing they could provide greater insight into Biden’s memory and responses during the investigation. The House Judiciary Committee had sought access to the audio for months as part of its oversight efforts.
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The DOJ had previously resisted releasing the materials under the Freedom of Information Act while Biden was president. The department later reversed its position after President Donald Trump returned to office earlier this year.
Biden’s attorneys argued that public release of the recordings could create broader consequences beyond the current case. They said allowing investigator’s interview recordings to become public court discourage future cooperation with federal inquiries and weaken privacy protections for both presidents and private citizens.
The case adds another legal and political battle connected to the classified documents investigation, which became a major issue during Biden’s presidency and the 2024 election cycle. A court decision on Biden’s request to block the release is expected before the Department of Justice’s June deadline.