Former President Joe Biden has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews related to the classified documents investigation. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, where Biden's lawyers argue that releasing the materials would constitute an "unwarranted intrusion into the former president's privacy."

The case concerns interviews conducted in 2016 and 2017 between Biden and author Mark Zwonitzer, who collaborated with him on two autobiographical books. The recordings were later obtained by special counsel Robert Hur during the investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents while he was a senator and vice president.

The investigation concluded with a 345-page report, which raised questions about Biden's memory and mental capacity, but did not recommend bringing criminal charges against him.

Biden's lawyers say the U.S. Justice Department intends to turn over the materials to Congress and the conservative Heritage Foundation in June. In 2024, Congress sued former Attorney General Merrick Garland for refusing to release the audio recordings, citing White House executive privilege. The earlier release of the transcripts had sparked intense political debate in the U.S., with Republicans accusing the administration of preferential treatment for Biden, while Democrats highlighted his cooperation with investigators, in contrast to Donald Trump's legal challenges over the confidential documents.