Biden Sues US Justice Department to Block Release of Interview Audio

Former President Joe Biden filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice on May 27, 2026 ^[1], to block the release of interview recordings.

The legal action seeks to prevent the public disclosure of audio and transcripts involving the author or ghostwriter of Biden's biography. Because these materials were obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigation into classified documents, the case highlights the tension between government transparency and the privacy of former executives.

The recordings in question consist of conversations that are approximately 10 years old ^[1]. These interviews were conducted with the person responsible for writing Biden's biography—identified in some reports as the author and in others as a ghostwriter—and were later acquired by Hur as part of his probe.

Biden argues that the release of these materials would violate his personal privacy. He said that the disclosure of the audio could potentially expose classified information that was discussed during those private conversations ^[1], ^[2].

The lawsuit was filed in a U.S. federal court, likely in Washington, D.C. ^[1], ^[2]. The legal challenge specifically targets the Department of Justice's intent to release the materials, which Biden said should remain confidential due to the sensitive nature of the content and the context of the original discussions.

This move follows the conclusion of the classified-documents probe led by Hur. While the investigation focused on the handling of government records, the inclusion of biography-related interviews suggests the Special Counsel's team looked into the broader context of how Biden's personal and professional history was documented.