Former President Joe Biden has taken the Department of Justice (DOJ) to court, seeking to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts from private interviews with his ghostwriter. The recordings were made in 2016 and 2017 at Biden’s home and are part of a special counsel investigation into how he handled classified documents.
Biden’s lawyers, in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., argue that all Americans, including sitting and former vice presidents, have a “right to privacy in the personal conversations he has within his own home.” They also claim that releasing the documents would cause Biden harm, including “costs to respond to the disclosure and other financial losses.”
The DOJ had planned to release the files to the House Judiciary Committee and the conservative Heritage Foundation on June 15. Biden’s lawsuit is seeking to stop that from happening, citing concerns about his personal privacy.
Trump’s “crooked politician” jab shows just how politically charged this case has become
Donald Trump quickly responded on Truth Social, calling Biden “A Crooked Politician!!!” The recordings at the center of this dispute are conversations Biden had with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer. The Justice Department initially refused to share the audio files, citing executive privilege, but later reversed its position and notified Biden in February that it intended to release the documents.
Biden’s lawsuit claims he has not received a satisfactory explanation for why the DOJ changed its position. The lawsuit also references a report by former special counsel Robert Hur, who concluded that Biden’s memory lapses did not warrant criminal charges. However, Hur did note that Biden “willfully” retained classified documents found in an old office space and at his Wilmington, Delaware home.
Biden’s memory had already become a major issue during his 2024 presidential campaign. Critics raised questions about his cognitive ability, and a poor debate performance against Trump ultimately led him to withdraw from the race. Biden has had several public moments that raised serious concerns about his sharpness in recent times.
House Judiciary Committee Republicans had been pushing for the release of the audio recordings ever since Hur’s report came out. In 2024, the House voted to hold then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt over the files.
Separately, reports have also emerged about Biden’s aggressive foreign policy plans for a second term, adding to the broader debate about his decision-making during that period. With the DOJ’s planned release date set for June 15 and Biden’s lawsuit now in the picture, the legal battle over these recordings is far from over.
Published: May 27, 2026 02:57 pm