WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Audio recordings that former President Joe Biden fought for years to keep private are now public after a lengthy court battle. The recordings, which total about 70 hours, became a key part of former Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. More than two hours of the recordings were released to CBS News after a federal appeals court ruled against Biden’s effort to block their release.

The recordings capture Biden speaking with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, while working on his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. Although the conversations include references to classified material, investigators never alleged that the published book contained classified information.

The release has renewed public attention on Biden’s classified documents case, his memory, and the legal decisions that followed. At the same time, Biden’s representatives argue that the recordings should have remained private because they involved personal conversations about his late son and were shared with the Justice Department under the expectation of confidentiality.

The recordings first gained national attention after Hur cited them in his February 2024 report. Federal investigators launched the inquiry after classified documents from Biden’s time as vice president surfaced at his Delaware home and a private office. Hur ultimately decided not to recommend criminal charges against Biden.

In the recordings, Biden appears to recognise that some of the documents he discussed could contain sensitive information. At one point, he tells Zwonitzer, “Some of this may be classified.” He later says, “The next thing I have here is, um, this is classified.”

Other recordings include Biden describing meetings involving the CIA, the Situation Room and the Department of Defense. During one conversation from October 2016, Biden says he had extensive notes that White House officials did not know he possessed. In another recording from February 2017, he remarks, “I just found all the classified stuff downstairs,” a statement Hur referenced in his report while examining how classified material remained in Biden’s possession after he left office.

However, Biden also shows caution during several conversations. In one recording, he specifically refers to the “non-classified part” of a discussion with then-President Barack Obama before continuing his explanation. Investigators also confirmed that no classified information appeared in Biden’s published memoir.

Hur’s report focused not only on the documents but also on Biden’s memory during the investigation. The report described Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and stated that he struggled at times to recall important events. Hur also wrote that Biden’s recorded conversations often moved slowly and showed signs of memory lapses.

The newly released recordings include moments when Biden pauses or searches for words. In one exchange, he says he cannot remember what he wanted to ask next. Still, the recordings do not consistently show major memory problems throughout the conversations.

Biden strongly rejected Hur’s conclusions after the report became public. He said he never shared classified information with his ghostwriter and denied knowingly mishandling sensitive records. He also said he did not know how classified documents ended up in boxes stored in his garage.

The legal fight over the recordings lasted more than two years. The Oversight Project, a conservative nonprofit affiliated with The Heritage Foundation, sought access to the audio through a Freedom of Information Act request in February 2024. After the Justice Department did not release the files, the group filed a lawsuit in federal court.

According to the Oversight Project, the Justice Department later agreed to release the recordings after President Donald Trump returned to office. Biden’s legal team continued to oppose disclosure, but a federal appeals court ruled against the former president in July. The group later described the decision as a complete legal victory.

Biden spokesperson TJ Ducklo criticised the release, saying the conversations were private and involved discussions about Biden’s late son. Ducklo also accused the current administration of using the Justice Department for political purposes. However, he added that Biden respected the court’s decision and the role of an independent judiciary.

The release also comes as questions about Biden’s age and mental fitness continue to shape public debate. Those concerns grew during his presidency and intensified after his 2024 debate performance against then-candidate Donald Trump. Biden later ended his re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, Biden plans to publish a new book, Promise Me, America, in November. The memoir will cover his presidency, his 2024 campaign and his decision to step aside. Even so, the newly released recordings have once again placed the former president’s handling of classified documents and his public record at the centre of national attention.