Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sued the Justice Department late Tuesday to block release of recorded interviews with his ghostwriter. The recordings, obtained during the classified materials investigation in 2023, are scheduled for release to the House Judiciary Committee on June 15. Biden argues these private conversations, held in his home, are protected by privacy rights and should remain confidential.

The recordings discuss sensitive topics including Biden's decision to run for president in 2016 after his son Beau's cancer battle. While the Biden DOJ initially resisted disclosure, the department changed course under the Trump administration. Biden's lawyers claim the congressional request lacks legitimate legislative purpose and violates privacy protections established during the criminal investigation.

The Justice Department refused most redactions that Biden requested, despite his concerns about privacy for himself and third parties. The recordings were uncovered on a hard drive provided by ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer during the investigation. This legal battle highlights tensions between congressional oversight demands and former presidents' privacy rights regarding personal memoir discussions.