Recordings Document Biden's References to Classified Information and Memory

Why it matters locally: As the seat of the federal government, the District of Columbia is often at the center of national discussions regarding classified information and presidential conduct.

---

Recordings between Joe Biden, then former Vice President, and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, include references to classified information. The audio interviews also contain Biden's personal reflections on his memory. In one recording, Biden stated, "I just found all the classified stuff downstairs." The context of this statement within the recordings specifies discussions of government documents. Biden discussed his memory in the interviews. He remarked, "I'm a young man, and I'm still very much in my prime." In a separate part of the recordings, he also stated, "I have some memory issues, but I'm getting better." These recordings occurred during a period when Biden was collaborating with Zwonitzer on a book. The interviews captured various conversations between the two individuals.