A federal judge on Friday rejected former President Joe Biden's attempt to block the Trump administration from releasing to a conservative group the recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted during a special counsel investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled that the Department of Justice must comply with a Freedom of Information Act request from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, seeking materials from the probe led by Special Counsel Robert Hur. The investigation concluded in February 2024 without charges, but the report described Biden as a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.'
The Biden legal team argued that releasing the materials would violate privacy and executive privilege, but the judge found that the public interest in disclosure outweighed those concerns. The Trump administration had declined to intervene in the case, effectively supporting the release.
The decision marks a significant legal setback for Biden, who has sought to limit public scrutiny of the investigation. The Heritage Foundation praised the ruling, stating it would 'bring transparency to a process that was shrouded in secrecy.'
As of Friday, the DOJ has not indicated whether it will appeal the decision. The transcripts and recordings are expected to be released within 30 days, pending any legal challenges.
