Former President Joe Biden has withdrawn his lawsuit aimed at preventing the public release of his memoir tapes after a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit favored their disclosure. Biden's legal team filed a notice of voluntary dismissal shortly after the court ruled against his efforts to block the release of audio recordings and interview transcripts related to his 2017 memoir, 'Promise Me, Dad.'
The court stated that Biden had not demonstrated a likelihood that the materials should be withheld from public access. Biden has argued that the recordings contain personal information that should remain private. His attorneys emphasized the right to privacy for all Americans, including former Vice Presidents, in personal conversations conducted in private settings.
The Heritage Foundation had initiated a lawsuit for the release of these records, citing findings from special counsel Robert Hur's investigation in 2024, which indicated that Biden may have disclosed classified information during the recordings. Hur noted that Biden had read classified notes from national security meetings during his interviews with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer. Zwonitzer also informed the FBI that he deleted several audio files after learning of the investigation due to concerns about privacy.
Despite the investigation, the special counsel decided not to pursue charges against Biden, citing his age and potential defense as a sympathetic figure. The Department of Justice may release the remaining materials as soon as this weekend following the Heritage Foundation's successful legal action.