Former President Biden’s ghostwriter interviews can be released to Congress

(NBC, KYMA) - A federal appeals court has rejected a request by former President Joe Biden to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with a memoir ghostwriter before he was elected president.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit issued a 2-1 ruling late Monday.

In that ruling, the court found there is a "substantial" public interest in disclosing the material, with specific redactions to protect former President Biden's privacy.

However, the ruling was suspended until August 3 to allow Biden time to consider further appeals.

Biden's lawyer has claimed the conversations were candid, personal, and intended to remain private.

The recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden's handling of classified documents from his time as a senator from Delaware and as Vice President.

Republicans in congress demanded the material after Hur declined to file charges against the then president.