Audio recordings of former President Joe Biden's conversations with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, have been released after a lengthy legal battle. The tapes, which span nearly 70 hours, were made during the writing of Biden's 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. The recordings were cited in a 2024 special counsel report investigating Biden's handling of classified documents.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
The recordings were released after Biden's legal team dropped an appeal following adverse court rulings. The House Judiciary Committee and conservative groups, including the Oversight Project and The Heritage Foundation, obtained the tapes through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The tapes include instances where Biden references potentially classified material and exhibits signs of memory struggles.
Deeper Dive & Context
Background of the Recordings
The recordings were made between 2016 and 2017 while Biden was working on his memoir. They were initially kept private, but their release was sought by conservative groups and the House Judiciary Committee. The tapes were referenced in former Special Counsel Robert Hur's report, which found no basis for criminal charges against Biden but described his memory as diminished and conversations as painfully slow.
Key Moments in the Recordings
In one segment, Biden is heard saying, 'Some of this may be classified. So, be careful. I'm not sure. It's not marked classified, but—' He also mentions, 'The next thing I have here is, um, this is classified.' No classified material was alleged to be in the published book. The tapes also show Biden struggling to recall details, with Zwonitzer often prompting him with dates and context.
Legal and Political Reactions
Biden's legal team had fought to keep the tapes private, citing privacy and national security concerns. The Department of Justice (DOJ) initially denied FOIA requests for the recordings but later allowed their release after court rulings. The tapes have been used by Republicans to question Biden's cognitive abilities and handling of classified documents.
Implications and Next Steps
The release of the tapes has reignited discussions about Biden's fitness for office and the handling of classified documents by high-ranking officials. While no charges were filed against Biden, the recordings have provided fodder for political opponents. The tapes are now publicly available, and further analysis is expected from both legal and political commentators.