Audio tapes reveal Joe Biden discussed sensitive information with his ghostwriter

Newly released audio recordings appear to capture former U.S. President Joe Biden discussing sensitive, classified information with his ghostwriter, Mark Lewis Zwonitzer, in the years leading up to his 2020 election. The tapes, totaling about three hours, were disclosed by the Oversight Project, an arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, following a protracted legal dispute to keep the conversations private.

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They didn’t even know I had this

In one October 2016 recording, Biden, then Vice President, can be heard telling Zwonitzer, “They didn’t even know I had this,” as he delved into foreign policy matters handled by the Obama administration. Another session in 2017, after Biden had left the West Wing but before launching his presidential campaign, features him seemingly admitting to retaining classified material from his vice presidency. “I just found all the classified stuff downstairs,” Biden is heard saying.

The specific classified information discussed in the tapes and transcripts is redacted. However, the recordings have surfaced after Special Counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 decision not to prosecute Biden for his handling of classified documents. Hur’s investigation concluded that while Biden cooperated, his age and what Hur termed a “poor memory” would make him a sympathetic figure to a jury. This assessment became a significant point of contention in public discussions about Biden's fitness for office.

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I just found all the classified stuff downstairs

Biden, who was 74 during the interviews and 81 when Hur released his report, cooperated with the special prosecutor. Hur’s report noted instances where Biden struggled to recall dates and details, though the tapes also reveal moments where he demonstrated a command of many facts and conversations. The release of these tapes by the Heritage Foundation adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of Biden's handling of classified information and his cognitive state.

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I wrote the President a handwritten 40-page memorandum arguing against deploying additional troops to Iraq, I mean, to Afghanistan on the grounds that it wouldn’t matter, that the day we left would be like the day before we arrived.