Audio recordings featuring conversations between former US President Joe Biden and his ghostwriter have been unveiled. The release, which occurred on Monday, July 27, followed a prolonged legal battle initiated by the conservative Oversight Project against the Justice Department. The former US leader had initially sought to keep the recordings confidential but eventually dropped his legal challenge.
The content of the recordings aligns with previous reports that Mr. Biden retained classified material after concluding his tenure as the vice president. It provides insight into his collaboration with former US President Barack Obama. Mr. Biden served as the vice president under Mr. Obama from January 20, 2009, to January 20, 2017, before assuming the role of the 46th president of the US from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025.
During the recordings, Mr. Biden shares notes from his vice presidency with biographer Mark Lewis Zwonitzer. He mentions his possession of handwritten notes from his time in office that were previously undisclosed. Certain segments of the discussions are redacted due to their connection to potentially classified foreign policy matters.
In one instance, Mr. Biden interrupts himself, stating, “And then — and then the next thing I have here is — this is classified.” The recordings also shed light on a disagreement between Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama regarding the response to the 2008 financial crisis. Mr. Biden recalls being a lone advocate for more aggressive actions, contrasting with Mr. Obama’s stance.
Furthermore, the recordings revisit Mr. Biden’s decision not to challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016. He mentions Mr. Obama advising him that the decision was his to make, cautioning that it would be a challenging endeavor. Mr. Biden reflects on his perception at the time, indicating that he believed securing the nomination would have been difficult.
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