Appeals court rejects Biden’s bid to block release of recordings of ghostwriter interviews

Joe BidenAppeals court rejects Biden’s bid to block release of recordings of ghostwriter interviewsThe panel’s 2-1 ruling late Monday found there is a “substantial” public interest in disclosing the material that Biden wants to keep under wraps. Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00A federal appeals court has rejected Joe Biden's request to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with a memoir ghostwriter.  Matt Rourke / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 21, 2026, 9:24 AM EDTBy The Associated PressWASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has rejected a request by Joe Biden to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with a memoir ghostwriter before he was elected president.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.A divided three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit suspended its decision until Aug. 3 to allow more time for Biden to consider another appeal.The panel’s 2-1 ruling late Monday found there is a “substantial” public interest in disclosing the material that Biden wants to keep under wraps. Redactions to the recordings would help protect Biden’s privacy, the majority noted.“We conclude that any remaining incursion on personal privacy from disclosure of the now-redacted materials likely does not outweigh the public interest in disclosure,” the court wrote.Mark Zwonitzer, who worked with Biden on his two memoirs, interviewed the Democrat at his home in 2016 and 2017. Biden’s lawyers say the conversations were candid, personal and intended to remain private.The recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents from his time as a senator from Delaware and as vice president. Republicans in Congress demanded the material after Hur declined to file charges against the then-president.Biden sued and sought an injunction t...