Biden sues Justice Department to block release of special counsel interview audio

Former President Joe Biden has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department, seeking to prevent the public disclosure of audio recordings and transcripts related to a special counsel investigation. The lawsuit aims to block the release of interviews Biden conducted with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, between 2016 and 2017, which were later used in Special Counsel Robert Hur's probe into Biden's handling of classified documents. The Justice Department reportedly intends to release these materials, with some redactions, by June 15 to the House Judiciary Committee and the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Biden's legal team argues that the planned disclosure constitutes an "unwarranted invasion of President Biden's privacy," asserting that all individuals, including former vice presidents, possess a right to privacy concerning personal conversations within their homes. This legal action follows Biden's assertion of executive privilege over the recordings in May 2024 when House Republicans initially sought them.

The special counsel's report, released in February 2024, ultimately recommended no criminal charges against Biden for his retention of classified materials. However, the report drew criticism from the White House for characterizing Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."