**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Biden DOJ Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Withheld Audio Recordings**
**Washington, D.C. – June 12, 2024** – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), under the administration of President Joe Biden, is now the defendant in a federal lawsuit stemming from its refusal to release audio recordings of special counsel interviews.
**Who:** The lawsuit was filed by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The defendants named are Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice.
**What:** The legal action seeks to compel the DOJ to produce audio recordings from the investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Hur. The probe concluded that President Biden had mishandled classified documents but recommended no criminal charges. Judicial Watch argues that the audio files are essential public records that provide critical context beyond the written transcripts already released.
**When:** The lawsuit was formally docketed on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The demand for the recordings dates back to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by Judicial Watch in February 2024, which the DOJ subsequently denied.
**Where:** The case has been assigned to a federal judge in the District of Columbia, the jurisdiction where the DOJ is headquartered and where the alleged records are held.
**Why:** Judicial Watch contends that the DOJ’s refusal to release the audio violates the Freedom of Information Act. The group claims that the public’s right to assess the credibility and thoroughness of the investigation requires access to the verbatim audio, not just edited transcripts. The DOJ has cited privacy concerns and the need to protect the integrity of ongoing investigative functions as grounds for withholding the files.
**Outcome:** The DOJ has not yet filed a formal response. Legal analysts predict a significant constitutional test regarding executive privilege versus public transparency, with a potential ruling expected within the next six months.