President Donald Trump criticized former President Joe Biden on Tuesday after Biden filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department to prevent the release of audio recordings and transcripts related to the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents. Trump referred to Biden as a 'Crooked Politician' on Truth Social, sharing an article about the lawsuit.
Biden's lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, seeks to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts from his interviews with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, which were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur. Biden's legal team argues that the Justice Department intends to release these files to Congress and the conservative Heritage Foundation, despite previously claiming they were exempt from disclosure under federal public records law.
The lawsuit asserts that releasing the files would infringe on Biden's privacy rights, stating, 'Every American, including a sitting or former Vice President, has a right to privacy in the personal conversations he has within his own home.'
The recordings and transcripts in question pertain to Biden's interviews at his home in 2016 and 2017 with Zwonitzer, who collaborated with Biden on his memoirs. These materials were examined by Hur during his investigation into Biden's retention of classified documents from his time as a senator and vice president.
Hur's investigation concluded with a report that raised questions about Biden's age and mental competence but did not recommend any criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence for prosecution. Biden has also contested the release of audio from his interview with Hur, leading to a contempt of Congress vote against then-Attorney General Merrick Garland for not providing that audio, which the White House claimed was protected by executive privilege.
While transcripts of Biden's interviews with federal prosecutors were released last year, they revealed instances where Biden was unclear about dates and details regarding sensitive documents. Republicans have claimed that Biden is being treated leniently by the Justice Department, while Democrats have highlighted Biden's cooperation with investigators in contrast to Trump's legal challenges regarding classified documents.