The Justice Department’s handling of President Biden’s transcripts with biographer Mark Zwonitzer has sparked controversy. Initially, the DOJ denied having these documents, but a recent court filing revealed their existence, amid Biden dropping out of the race.

The controversy began with the investigation led by former special counsel Robert Hur into Biden’s handling of classified documents from his vice-presidency. As part of the FOIA requests, DOJ attorneys had initially stated that converting audio files from Biden’s interviews into transcripts would be time-consuming. DOJ lawyer Cameron Silverberg emphasized this challenge to U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich. However, low and behold, on Monday evening, Silverberg confirmed the existence of transcripts for some of Biden’s conversations with Zwonitzer, spanning 117 pages across six electronic files.

Zwonitzer collaborated with Biden on memoirs in 2007 and 2017. These transcripts, created by a court-reporting service for the Special Counsel’s Office (SCO), surfaced during the processing of specific FOIA requests filed by the Heritage Foundation. Despite the DOJ’s initial reluctance, Hur’s office eventually verified the transcripts and other crucial documents, including a handwritten note by Biden related to Afghanistan, as part of the investigation.

Hur’s final report, released in February, did not recommend criminal charges against Biden. It portrayed Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” suggesting it would be challenging to convince a jury of his willfulness in mishandling classified materials. This characterization of Biden ignited outrage, as critics argued it rendered him too cognitively impaired for legal accountability but still fit for the presidency.

The White House’s assertion of executive privilege over the Biden-Zwonitzer audio and video recordings, including those tied to Hur’s investigation, further complicated matters. Attorney General Merrick Garland defended this decision, citing the importance of maintaining the integrity of high-profile criminal investigations. However, this move faced criticism for potentially obstructing transparency.

Adding to the political turmoil, President Biden dropped out of the presidential race amid increasing pressure from Democrats and after a poorly received debate performance. Concerns about his mental fitness and age fueled the calls for his withdrawal. As a result, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 election.