Former President Joe Biden filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the Justice Department’s planned release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer. These materials were obtained by Special Counsel Robert Hur during his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents [1][2].
The recordings and transcripts in question include interviews conducted at Biden’s home in 2016 and 2017 with Zwonitzer, who was assisting Biden with his memoirs [1][2]. Biden’s legal team argues that releasing these materials would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. They assert that every American, including a former vice president, has a right to privacy in personal conversations conducted at home, and that the DOJ has a responsibility to protect such information obtained through a criminal investigation [1][2].
The Justice Department plans to release redacted versions of the audio recordings and transcripts to Congress and the Heritage Foundation on June 15, 2026, unless a court order blocks the release [3][4]. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative group, requested the materials under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) [3].
Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation resulted in a 345-page report that questioned Biden’s age and mental competence but recommended no criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence to prosecute [1][2].
What Is Known
The lawsuit was filed by Biden in an effort to prevent the release of personal interview recordings and transcripts obtained during a special counsel investigation. The DOJ intends to release these materials to Congress and the Heritage Foundation, with a planned release date of June 15, 2026. The investigation by Special Counsel Hur did not lead to criminal charges against Biden [1][2][3].
What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear how the court will respond to Biden’s lawsuit and whether the planned release of the materials will proceed as scheduled. Additionally, the specific contents of the recordings and transcripts have not been disclosed, leaving the potential impact of their release uncertain [1][2][3].
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