Biden files lawsuit in bid to block DOJ audio interview release
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Former President Biden in Columbia, South Carolina, in February. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Former President Biden is suing the U.S. Department of Justice in an attempt to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of private conversations with his biographer.
Why it matters: The recordings from 2016 and 2017 formed a key part of special counsel Robert Hur's investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents.
The big picture: Biden denies sharing classified information, but Hur concluded that the former president read classified notebook excerpts to ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer.
- Hur concluded that Biden's memory lapses during the special prosecutor's interview with him would make it harder to prove he acted willfully.
Driving the news: The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., comes as the DOJ plans a June 15 release of redacted transcripts and audio recordings to Congress and the Heritage Foundation, which sued for the material under the Freedom of Information Act.
What they're saying: TJ Ducklo, a spokesperson for Biden, said the former president cooperated fully with Hur and agreed to provide the tapes of his conversations with Zwonitzer "on the condition that they would not be made public."
- Ducklo said in an emailed statement that"the DOJ themselves" have said the tapes serve no public interest.
- "If this Administration were genuinely committed to transparency, they would release Volume 2 of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on Donald Trump's own alleged mishandling of classified documents. That report contains information Americans actually deserve to see."
The other side: A DOJ spokesperson said "Biden's Justice Department tried to hide audio recordings that clearly demonstrate a significant decline in his cognitive abilities as far back as 2016."
- She said the DOJ would "fight to ensure the American people can hear these recordings and draw their own conclusions about the former President's mental acuity before he sought the presidency."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comments from spokespeople for Biden and the DOJ.
