Appeals court rejects Biden ghostwriter recordings block
Analysis based on 52 articles · First reported Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026
The ruling has minimal direct market impact but may affect Biden's public image and political standing. The release of recordings could influence public perception ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected Joe Biden's request to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his interviews with memoir ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer. The 2-1 ruling found substantial public interest in disclosure, with redactions to protect privacy. The court suspended its decision until August 3 to allow Biden to appeal further. The recordings were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur during an investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents; Hur declined to file charges. Republicans in Congress and the The Heritage Foundation sought the material. Biden sued to prevent the Justice Department under President Donald Trump from releasing the recordings. Judge Florence Y. Pan dissented, citing Biden's privacy interest. The ruling follows a June decision by District Judge Dabney Friedrich favoring disclosure.
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