The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently disclosed that officials there have unearthed transcripts from President Joe Biden's conversations with his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, which may contain classified information.

These disclosures are linked to a lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation seeking documents from former special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden's handling of classified materials, as the Washington Examiner reports, and the DOJ's admission stands counter to prior denials.

The transcripts, discovered during the processing of the Biden-Zwonitzer audio tapes, have raised legal and political questions.

Transcripts Discovered During Tape Processing

The transcripts surfaced as part of a response to the Heritage Foundation's lawsuit, which is requesting documents and recordings cited in Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents.

The Heritage Foundation specifically asked for audio recordings of Biden’s interviews with his ghostwriter.

The DOJ's findings include six electronic files totaling 117 pages, which appear to be verbatim transcripts from the Biden-Zwonitzer recordings.

This revelation came as a surprise since a DOJ lawyer had previously stated that no such transcripts existed.

Ongoing Legal Battle Over Investigation Materials

The Heritage Foundation, along with other entities like the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, Judicial Watch, and a media coalition led by CNN, has been embroiled in a legal battle with the DOJ for months.

The entities are seeking records from Hur’s investigation, particularly the audio recordings of a critical interview conducted last year between Hur and Biden.

DOJ attorneys are currently claiming that these tapes are protected by executive privilege. Hur’s report, released in February, not only highlighted Biden’s mishandling of classified documents but also mentioned signs of cognitive decline which influenced the decision not to prosecute him.

Notes From Classified Meetings Included in Interviews

According to the investigation, Biden allegedly read nearly verbatim notes from classified meetings to Zwonitzer during the book-writing process in 2016 and 2017. This has incited further scrutiny as there are approximately 70 hours of recorded audio between Biden and Zwonitzer.

The Heritage Foundation's quest for transparency has led to numerous legal proceedings, one of which was a hearing scheduled for Tuesday that was subsequently canceled and is expected to be rescheduled.

Increased Interest After Decision Not to Prosecute

Interest in Hur’s investigative materials has surged, especially after the special counsel decided not to prosecute Biden. The report’s references to Biden’s cognitive state added fuel to the fire, culminating in Biden ending his reelection campaign this week.

DOJ attorneys wrote in their filing, “The Department located six electronic files, consisting of a total of 117 pages, that appeared to be verbatim transcripts of a small subset of the Biden-Zwonitzer audio recordings created for the SCO by a court-reporting service.”

In a prior hearing, a DOJ attorney stated, “Unlike the case of the special counsel and his interviews with the president, we don’t have some transcript that’s been created by the special counsel that we can attest to its accuracy.”

Conclusion

In summary, the DOJ revealed it has transcripts of conversations between President Joe Biden and his ghostwriter, originating from a lawsuit seeking information on Biden's handling of classified documents. The discovery includes six electronic files from Biden-Zwonitzer recordings, inciting further legal battles and impacting Biden’s political career. Continued interest in these materials is expected, with future hearings anticipated.

This latest revelation adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about the transparency and handling of classified information by high-ranking officials. The fallout continues as both legal and political landscapes react to this development.

The concern over whether classified information was compromised during Biden’s interactions with his ghostwriter will undoubtedly remain a focal point as more details emerge in forthcoming legal proceedings.