Former President Joe Biden faces a Tuesday deadline to try to block the release of recovered audio recordings from conversations he had with his memoir ghostwriter in 2017.
Dispute Over Recovered Tapes
The recordings became part of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. According to court filings, some of the audio files had been deleted but were later recovered during the investigation.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department said the recordings and transcripts could be turned over to Congress and the conservative Heritage Foundation if Biden does not formally intervene in the case.
Background of the Investigation
Hur’s report stated there was evidence Biden had “willfully retained” classified materials after leaving office but concluded charges were not appropriate. The report also described Biden as an elderly man with memory issues, comments that drew major political attention at the time.
The recordings reportedly captured Biden discussing events while working on his memoir “Promise Me, Dad.”
Biden Previously Opposed Release
The Biden administration had earlier argued against releasing the recordings, warning they could be manipulated through deepfake technology and could discourage cooperation in future investigations.
The Heritage Foundation argued the public has a strong interest in hearing the tapes, especially regarding questions about Biden’s memory and mental fitness.
If Biden does not act before the deadline, the Justice Department said the material could be released shortly afterward.
