Full Breakdown
Biden Seeks Injunction to Block DOJ Release of 2017 Ghostwriter Audio
5/11/2026, 2:36:31 AM
Core Legal Move: Request to Enjoin Release
President Joe Biden’s legal team has filed a motion to intervene and stop the Department of Justice (DOJ) from releasing redacted audio recordings and transcripts of the president’s 2017 conversations with his book ghostwriter. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate noted that the DOJ “does not oppose intervention.” If Biden objects before the upcoming Tuesday deadline, the DOJ said the release would be postponed until June 15, 2026.
Background: FOIA Request and Special Counsel Investigation
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, led by Mike Howell, filed a Freedom of Information Act request that produced 70 hours of redacted recordings. The material stems from the 2017 discussions that formed the memoir *Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose*. The recordings were obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents after the Obama administration.
Key Players
- Joe Biden – President, seeking injunction.
- Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division – filed the DOJ response.
- Mike Howell, President, Heritage Foundation Oversight Project – FOIA requester.
- TJ Ducklo, White House spokesperson – commented on cooperation and public interest.
- Robert Hur, Special Counsel – oversaw the original investigation.
Timeline of Filings and Deadlines
- 2017 – Audio recordings made during memoir preparation.
- March 23, 2026 – House Judiciary Committee chair formally requested the material.
- Tuesday (date unspecified) – Deadline for Biden’s counsel to file an objection.
- June 15, 2026 – Projected release date if no injunction is granted.
Data & Statistics
- 70 hours of redacted audio recordings.
- Corresponding redacted written transcripts.
- Content pertains to the 2017 drafting of *Promise Me, Dad*.
Official Statements & Responses
Shumate’s filing asserted that “the public deserves to hear the tapes and read the transcripts as redacted by President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice.” White House spokesperson TJ Ducklo emphasized that President Biden “cooperated fully with Special Counsel Hur” and noted that the DOJ had described the tapes as serving “no public interest.” Ducklo also argued that genuine transparency would require releasing the pending Special Counsel Jack Smith report on former President Donald Trump.
Criticism & Opposition
Heritage Foundation President Mike Howell contended that the recordings “will further prove the massive lie regarding Biden’s fitness for office and the fact Biden revealed classified information.” He characterized the administration’s legal maneuver as a “delay tactic” that deprives the American public of transparency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “President Biden, through counsel, has advised the Department that he intends to seek to intervene to prevent any such disclosures,” — Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General
- “If this Administration were genuinely committed to transparency, they would release Volume 2 of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s own alleged mishandling of classified documents.” — TJ Ducklo, White House spokesperson
- “These tapes will further prove the massive lie regarding Biden’s fitness for office and the fact Biden revealed classified information,” — Mike Howell, President, Heritage Foundation Oversight Project
- “The public deserves to hear the tapes and read the transcripts as redacted by President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice,” — Brett Shumate, Assistant Attorney General
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The filing references a “Tuesday deadline” without specifying the calendar date, leaving the exact response window unclear. Additionally, the DOJ’s claim that the tapes “serve no public interest” is presented without supporting detail in the documents reviewed.
What’s Next
Biden’s attorneys must file a formal objection by the unspecified Tuesday deadline. Should they do so, the DOJ plans to delay public disclosure until June 15, 2026 while continuing to provide the material to the House Judiciary Committee and the plaintiffs. Further court rulings may determine the ultimate availability of the recordings.
