Recordings Released: Former President Joe Biden’s Interviews Examined

Recordings of interviews with former President Joe Biden have been released following a special counsel investigation. These interviews, conducted with his memoir ghostwriter, were initially sought by Mike Howell, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, through FOIA requests. Howell argued that the public should review these recordings on which Special Counsel Robert Hur based his findings.

The recordings feature conversations with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter for Biden’s memoir Promise Me, Dad. The tapes showcase Biden’s frequent pauses and his struggle to recall events. This supports Hur’s portrayal in his report. Biden’s slow and halting speech is evident in these recordings, which prompted further scrutiny of Hur’s and Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decisions not to prosecute for retaining or disclosing classified information.

“Joe Biden didn’t want these tapes to come out. But now they have. There is no joy in Bidenville today,” said Jeff Clark from the Oversight Project.

The released materials include 2 hours and 45 minutes of recordings. They are part of Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents from his time as Vice President and as a U.S. Senator. Despite the findings, Hur did not press criminal charges, stating that proving willful retention or disclosure of classified material was implausible.

Hur’s report also described Biden as occasionally struggling to remember events, with a limited memory during both the 2017 interviews and another in 2023. Hur suggested Biden could be seen by a jury as sympathetic due to his age and memory issues rather than intentional lawbreaking.

The recordings include instances where Biden forgets names and specific dates. While discussing a 2014 Situation Room meeting, Biden warned Zwonitzer that some information might be classified, adding uncertainty on whether it was marked as such.

On April 24, 2017, Biden forgot the names of two economic advisers, eventually aided by Zwonitzer’s reminder of Alan Krueger’s name. In another instance, Biden struggled to remember details about attending a memorial service, unsure of the person’s name. He noted, “I don’t think her name was [REDACTED], or I forget [REDACTED].” Zwonitzer responded with a neutral acknowledgment, while Biden resolved to note these details.