Story perspectives

Biden Tapes Released After Lawsuit Dismissed, Claim $8M Profit

7/28/2026

Summary

Biden Tapes Released

Oversight Project released President Joe Biden’s tapes on July 27 after he dropped his legal challenge.
Biden told biographer Mark Lewis Zwonitzer he found classified material in early 2009 and wrote a memo opposing more troops in Afghanistan.
Mike Howell and Jeff Clark said the tapes show Biden gave away secrets for an $8 million profit.
Special Counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 report called Biden an elderly man with poor memory and declined prosecution.

Summary

Court Releases Tapes

On July 20, the D.C. Court of Appeals lifted the injunction, allowing tapes obtained via a February 2024 Heritage Foundation FOIA request to be released.
Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed President Biden’s lawsuit after he voluntarily withdrew it, ending his bid to block the disclosure.
After the House Judiciary Committee warned ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer of contempt for ignoring its subpoena, the Oversight Project posted a 117-page transcript and three hours of audio on X.

History

Historical Context

On July 24 1974 the Supreme Court unanimously ordered President Richard Nixon to turn over Watergate tape recordings, establishing a precedent that executive privilege yields to judicial subpoenas. Nearly five decades later, in July 2024 the D.C. Court of Appeals lifted an injunction, allowing the Oversight Project to release President Joe Biden’s tapes, echoing the 1974 transparency ruling.

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Biden Tapes Released

Oversight Project released President Joe Biden’s tapes on July 27 after he dropped his legal challenge.
Biden told biographer Mark Lewis Zwonitzer he found classified material in early 2009 and wrote a memo opposing more troops in Afghanistan.
Mike Howell and Jeff Clark said the tapes show Biden gave away secrets for an $8 million profit.
Special Counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 report called Biden an elderly man with poor memory and declined prosecution.

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