House Republicans request transcripts and recordings of Biden's interviews with special counsel

House Republicans are stepping up their efforts in the aftermath of a scathing report regarding President Biden's handling of classified documents. Special counsel Robert Hur's report, which did not result in criminal charges against Mr. Biden, raised concerns about the unauthorized retention and disclosure of classified materials during his time as a private citizen after his vice presidency. Seeking further insight into the matter, the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees have penned a letter to the Justice Department.

Request for access to transcripts and records

In the letter, they requested access to transcripts, audio and video recordings, as well as any other records pertaining to Hur's interviews with Mr. Biden on October 8 and 9. Additionally, they sought materials related to the special counsel's interview with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter of Mr. Biden's memoir, during which the president was accused of sharing government secrets and documents related to a 2015 call with Ukraine's prime minister.

Emphasizing the relevance of the materials

The committees' chairmen (Kentucky Rep. James Comer, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, and Missouri Rep. Jason Smith) emphasized the relevance of the materials to the ongoing impeachment investigation into Mr. Biden. Despite their previous efforts to link Mr. Biden to illicit enrichment through his family's foreign business dealings, particularly in China and Ukraine, and alleged acceptance of bribes, no evidence of wrongdoing has been uncovered.

Potential grounds for drafting articles of impeachment

The lawmakers indicated that Mr. Biden's handling of classified documents is a focal point of their investigation, and they believe Hur's report could potentially provide grounds for drafting articles of impeachment. They underscored their preparedness to compel the production of the requested material, if necessary, and set a deadline of February 19 for its provision. The Justice Department declined to provide a comment.

Response from President Biden's attorney

President Biden's personal attorney, Bob Bauer, acknowledged the existence of transcripts of the interview with the special counsel during an interview with "Face the Nation." He also indicated ongoing discussions, due to the classified nature of the document, regarding the potential release of the transcripts.