Biden's ghostwriter recordings reveal references to classified documents

Recently released audio recordings between President Joe Biden and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, reportedly contain references to classified information, reigniting scrutiny over the handling of sensitive documents. The recordings, made in 2017 while Biden was working on his memoir "Promise Me, Dad," include instances where Biden mentions classified material and advises caution to Zwonitzer. This release follows a two-year legal battle initiated by the conservative non-profit, the Oversight Project, against the former president's efforts to keep them private.

These recordings were a key component of Special Counsel Robert Hur's 2024 investigation into Biden's retention of classified documents after his vice presidency. Hur's report cited instances where Biden reportedly read classified notes to Zwonitzer and indicated that he had found classified material. Although Hur ultimately did not recommend criminal charges, his report controversially described Biden as an "elderly man with a poor memory," a characterization that was also partly informed by the nature of the recorded conversations.

During the investigation, it was also revealed that Zwonitzer had deleted some recordings of his conversations with Biden after learning of the federal probe, though the FBI later recovered most of these deleted files. While no classified material was ever alleged to be in the published book, the tapes and the subsequent report have continued to fuel political debate regarding the president's handling of classified information and his cognitive abilities.