The essentials
Appeals court rejected Biden's bid to block ghostwriter recordings obtained during classified documents probe.
A U.S. Court of Appeals rejected President Biden's request to block the release of interview recordings between Biden and his ghostwriter, obtained by Special Counsel Robert Hur during a classified documents investigation.
District Judge Friedrich ruled in June 2026 that the public interest in disclosure outweighs Biden's privacy rights. The Trump administration Justice Department subsequently released the recordings to Congress and the Heritage Foundation, which had sued the Justice Department under FOIA for access to the materials.
Judge Florence Pan dissented from the majority opinion supporting release. The appeals court majority included judges appointed by both Obama and Trump, reflecting a consensus across judicial appointees on the disclosure question.
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How the Courts Ruled on Ghostwriter Recording Disclosure
Special Counsel Robert Hur obtained the recordings during his investigation. District Judge Friedrich ruled in June 2026 that public interest outweighs privacy rights. The appeals court affirmed, rejecting Biden's request to block release. Judge Florence Pan filed a dissent from the majority decision. The Trump administration Justice Department then released the materials to Congress and Heritage Foundation.
Where Key Players Stood on Recording Disclosure
Biden's position sought to block the recordings' release. The Heritage Foundation pursued the materials through FOIA litigation. Special Counsel Hur obtained the recordings as part of his investigation. The appeals court majority—including judges appointed by both Obama and Trump—supported disclosure. Judge Pan's dissent represented an alternative judicial view on the matter.