The White House has blocked the release of audio from President Joe Biden’s interview with a special counsel about his handling of classified documents. The administration argued that Republicans only wanted the recordings for political purposes. Republicans are attempting to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, which they believe will hinder the Democratic president’s reelection efforts in a closely contested campaign. The dispute over access to the recordings is at the center of these efforts.
White House counsel Ed Siskel wrote a letter to House Republicans warning against the release of the audio recordings, accusing them of wanting to distort and manipulate them for partisan political gain. They argue that there is no legitimate need for the recordings to be released. In a public letter, Garland informed Biden that the audio recordings fall within the scope of executive privilege, protecting a president’s ability to receive candid advice from advisors without immediate public disclosure.
Garland stated that the lawmakers’ needs are insufficient to outweigh the negative impact the release of the recordings may have on future law enforcement investigations. The Justice Department also cautioned against contempt efforts, stating that it would create unnecessary conflict. They emphasized that it is a longstanding position of the executive branch that an official asserting executive privilege cannot be held in contempt of Congress. These developments come amid concerns from Biden’s aides and allies about potentially embarrassing moments being exacerbated by the release of the audio.
The special counsel investigating Biden’s handling of classified documents, Robert Hur, raised concerns about the president’s age and mental acuity during the interview. The transcript showed Biden struggling to recall some details, but overall showing deep recall in other areas. Biden and his aides are sensitive to questions about his age, as at 81, he is the oldest president. The documents in question related to Biden’s opposition to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration.
Hur’s report found that some documents tied to Biden were retained by mistake, while others showed evidence of willful retention and disclosure. The files were discovered in various locations, including the Penn Biden Center in Washington, parts of Biden’s Delaware home, and his Senate papers at the University of Delaware. Some of the information related to a letter to Obama during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, which Biden had shared with a ghostwriter for his memoirs published in 2007 and 2017.
