Biden Seeks to Block Release of 2017 Book Materials
Former President Joe Biden aims to prevent the Justice Department from disclosing edited transcripts and ghostwritten audio recordings related to his 2017 book, as stated in a court filing from May 8.
According to reports, Biden has until Tuesday to make his case in this matter. The Heritage Foundation is pursuing access to the redacted documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If Biden raises objections by the May 12 deadline, the materials won’t be available until June 15.
The contested documents consist of 70 hours of edited recordings, which capture conversations between Biden and the ghostwriter of his book, “Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.” These recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur during an investigation into Biden’s management of classified documents from the Obama administration.
The ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, has come under scrutiny as Biden allegedly took notes containing classified information, including details from the president’s daily reports and materials tied to National Security Council meetings. Reports suggest he may have shared some notes with Zwonitzer during their collaborations.
Biden’s legal team has informed the Justice Department of his intention to intervene. The department does not contest this intervention.
Press secretary TJ Ducklo emphasized that Biden is opposing the public release of his conversations with biographers regarding his late son, although he has fully cooperated with Special Counsel Hur. Ducklo stated, “The Department of Justice has said these tapes are not in the public interest.” He characterized the current situation more as a political issue than a matter of transparency.
Previously, the Justice Department declined to provide Congress with recordings of interviews conducted with Biden. An investigation led to a conclusion that criminal charges against him were not justified, with findings suggesting Biden’s recall during sessions was “significantly limited.”
Additionally, sources indicate that the Heritage Foundation plans to continue its efforts to access the disputed documents.
