Litigation Initiated by Former President Biden to Preclude Disclosure of Investigative Materials

前總統拜登提起訴訟，以防止披露調查資料

May 27, 2026, 20:51
USPolitics

Introduction

Former President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prevent the release of audio recordings and transcripts involving a memoir ghostwriter.

前總統喬·拜登已對司法部（DOJ）提起聯邦訴訟，以防止發布涉及回憶錄代筆人的錄音與文字記錄。

Main Body

The legal action seeks to enjoin the DOJ from transferring approximately 70 hours of audio and corresponding transcripts to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the Heritage Foundation. These materials, recorded in 2016 and 2017 during the composition of the memoir 'Promise Me, Dad,' were acquired by Special Counsel Robert Hur during a 2023 investigation into the unauthorized retention of classified documents. The records reportedly document conversations regarding the 2014-2015 period, coinciding with the illness and death of Beau Biden.

此法律行動旨在禁止司法部將約 70 小時的音檔及相應的文字記錄移交給美國眾議院司法委員會與傳統基金會。這些資料是在 2016 年和 2017 年撰寫回憶錄《承諾我，爸爸》期間錄製的，由特別檢察官 Robert Hur 在 2023 年針對未經授權持有機密文件的調查中獲取。據報導，這些記錄記載了關於 2014 至 2015 年期間的對話，當時正值 Beau Biden 生病並去世。

Historically, the DOJ maintained that these records were exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), citing privacy concerns. However, the current administration has reversed this position, scheduling the release of the materials for June 15. Biden's legal counsel asserts that this reversal lacks formal justification and constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy, arguing that the DOJ possesses a fiduciary responsibility to protect information obtained during criminal inquiries.

從前，司法部主張根據《資訊自由法》（FOIA），基於隱私考量，這些記錄可免於披露。然而，現任政府改變了這一立場，計畫於 6 月 15 日發布這些資料。拜登的法律顧問聲稱，此次反轉缺乏正式理由，且構成對隱私的不當侵犯，並主張司法部負有信託責任，應保護在刑事調查期間獲取的資訊。

Stakeholder positioning remains polarized. The DOJ has characterized the materials as evidence of cognitive decline, while the Heritage Foundation maintains that the records are essential for public transparency. Conversely, the Biden legal team contends that the request is politically motivated. Parallel to this, President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the litigation, characterizing the former president as a 'crooked politician.' This dispute occurs against the backdrop of the 2024 Hur report, which concluded that while Biden willfully retained classified materials, criminal prosecution was not recommended due to insufficient evidence and the subject's perceived mental state.

利益相關者的立場依然兩極分化。司法部將這些資料定調為認知能力下降的證據，而傳統基金會則堅持這些記錄對於公眾透明度至關重要。相反地，拜登的法律團隊則認為該請求具有政治動機。與此同時，總統川普公開批評此次訴訟，將前總統形容為一名「不誠實的政治人物」。這場爭端發生在 2024 年 Hur 報告的背景之下，該報告結論認為雖然拜登故意持有機密資料，但由於證據不足及對當事人精神狀態的考量，不建議提起刑事訴訟。

Conclusion

The matter remains pending before a federal judge in Washington, D.C., with the scheduled release of the documents set for June 15 absent judicial intervention.

此案目前仍由華盛頓特區的一名聯邦法官審理中，若無司法干預，文件預計將於 6 月 15 日發布。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Legalism: Nominalization and Precise Verb Selection

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing an event to constructing a formal narrative. This text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (concepts) to create an objective, authoritative tone.

◈ The Shift from Action to Entity

Observe the phrase: "Litigation Initiated by Former President Biden to Preclude Disclosure..."

  • B2 Approach: "President Biden started a lawsuit to stop the government from showing the files."
  • C2 Approach: "Litigation... to preclude disclosure."

By replacing the active verb "stop" with the noun "disclosure" and the precise verb "preclude," the writer strips the sentence of emotional urgency and replaces it with institutional weight. At the C2 level, you do not simply 'stop' something; you preclude, obviate, or forestall it.

◈ High-Yield Lexical Precision

Certain words in this text function as "bridge words"—terms that signal a speaker's mastery of formal register:

  1. Enjoin (v.): Used here not as 'urge,' but in its legal sense: to prohibit someone from performing a particular action by an injunction.
  2. Fiduciary Responsibility (n. phrase): This transcends 'duty.' It implies a legal or ethical relationship of trust. Using this term signals an understanding of professional ethics and law.
  3. Unwarranted Invasion (adj. + n.): The choice of "unwarranted" over "unfair" shifts the argument from a moral plea to a procedural violation.

◈ Syntactic Sophistication: The 'Backdrop' Technique

Note the phrasing: "This dispute occurs against the backdrop of..."

This is a quintessential C2 rhetorical device. Rather than saying "This is happening because of X," the author uses a spatial metaphor (against the backdrop) to establish context without implying a direct, simplistic cause-and-effect relationship. It allows the writer to maintain a detached, analytical distance while providing necessary history.

Vocabulary Learning

enjoin (v.)
To legally prohibit or restrain an action
Example:The court decided to enjoin the company from disclosing the confidential data.
exempt (adj.)
Free from an obligation, duty, or requirement
Example:Certain documents were exempt from public scrutiny under the new policy.
fiduciary (adj.)
Relating to a trust or the duty to act in another’s best interest
Example:The attorney’s fiduciary duty required him to protect client confidentiality.
polarized (adj.)
Divided into sharply contrasting groups or opinions
Example:The debate over the bill has become polarized, with little room for compromise.
characterized (v.)
Described by distinctive features or qualities
Example:The report characterized the policy as overly restrictive.
crooked (adj.)
Dishonest, corrupt, or unethical
Example:The politician was labeled a crooked official after the scandal broke.
willfully (adv.)
Deliberately, intentionally, or with conscious intent
Example:He willfully ignored the warning signs, leading to the mishap.
insufficient (adj.)
Not enough in quantity or quality to meet a requirement
Example:The evidence presented was insufficient to secure a conviction.
perceived (adj.)
Understood or interpreted by someone, often subjectively
Example:The perceived threat prompted the government to act swiftly.
intervention (n.)
An act of intervening or intervening in a situation to alter its course
Example:The NGO’s intervention helped stabilize the community after the disaster.
litigation (n.)
The process of taking legal action or a legal dispute
Example:The company faced costly litigation after the product recall.
composition (n.)
The act or process of creating or arranging elements into a whole
Example:Her latest composition blends classical motifs with modern rhythms.
retention (n.)
The act of keeping or holding onto something
Example:The retention of classified documents is strictly regulated by law.
disclosure (n.)
The act of revealing or making information known
Example:The disclosure of the confidential report sparked widespread debate.
justification (n.)
A reason or explanation that makes an action acceptable or reasonable
Example:The board sought a justification for the sudden budget cuts.
invasion (n.)
The act of intruding or encroaching upon a space or privacy
Example:The unauthorized access was seen as an invasion of personal privacy.
transparency (n.)
The quality of being open, honest, and free of secrecy
Example:The organization pledged greater transparency in its decision‑making process.
pending (adj.)
Awaiting a decision, result, or resolution
Example:The case remains pending while the court reviews the evidence.
scheduled (adj.)
Arranged or planned for a particular time or date
Example:The conference is scheduled for next month, but it may be postponed.
judicial (adj.)
Relating to judges, courts, or the administration of justice
Example:The judicial review will determine whether the policy is constitutional.
Practice C2 words in a crossword→