'I just found all the classified stuff downstairs,' Biden tells ghostwriter in recording

July 28, 2026

Audio recordings from 2016-2017 between Joe Biden and his memoir ghostwriter have been released by Congressional Republicans, revealing Biden discussing classified materials he possessed after serving as vice president. In the tapes, recorded while working on his 2017 book "Promise Me, Dad," Biden explicitly mentions finding classified documents and having extensive notes that the White House was unaware of. A 2024 Department of Justice special counsel investigation determined Biden improperly retained records but recommended against prosecution, citing concerns that jurors would view him sympathetically as an elderly man with memory issues.

Who is affected

Joe Biden (former president and vice president)
Mark Zwonitzer (ghostwriter)
House Republicans and the Oversight Project (who sued for the tapes)
The US Department of Justice
President Donald Trump's administration
Special Counsel Robert Hur

What action is being taken

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Why it matters

This release is significant because it provides concrete evidence of a former president acknowledging possession of classified materials after leaving office as vice president. The recordings demonstrate Biden's awareness of having classified documents and notes unknown to the White House, which became the subject of a DOJ investigation. The matter highlights ongoing political tensions regarding the handling of classified information by high-ranking officials and raises questions about equal application of justice, particularly given that Trump faced charges for similar conduct that were later dropped.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC