Former President Joe Biden has won a temporary court victory, delaying the release of audio recordings and transcripts tied to the investigation into his handling of classified documents. The recordings stem from Biden’s interviews with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter of his 2017 memoir, “Promise Me, Dad.” U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, issued an injunction pending appeal that prevents the Justice Department from releasing the materials while the D.C. Circuit considers the case.

Background of the Case

The legal battle could determine whether Americans ever hear the recordings that helped shape Special Counsel Robert Hur’s decision not to prosecute Biden over his handling of classified documents. The audio has been the subject of intense scrutiny because Hur raised questions about Biden’s memory in explaining why he declined to bring charges against Biden for mishandling classified documents.

The Heritage Foundation and its Oversight Project director Mike Howell have spent more than two years seeking the recordings and transcripts through FOIA requests. Heritage Foundation officials have argued that the public has a strong interest in reviewing the materials referenced throughout Hur’s report, particularly because the special counsel relied on the recordings in explaining his decision not to pursue criminal charges.

Biden has been fighting to keep the potentially embarrassing recordings under wraps. After Friedrich denied Biden’s motion for a preliminary injunction on Friday, Biden’s legal team immediately sought emergency relief to preserve the status quo while appealing the decision.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.