Justice Department rejects efforts from groups using FOIA to get access to Hur tapes

The Department of Justice is fighting with outside organizations attempting to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to get access to former special counsel Robert Hur's recorded interview with President Joe Biden.

According to the Washington Examiner, attorneys at the DOJ argued that there is “no basis” under FOIA to hand over such recordings. 

Some of the groups attempting to get access to the recordings include a CNN-led media coalition, the Heritage Foundation and Judicial Watch.

Hur released a report earlier this year that concluded that Biden "willfully" retained classified documents from his time as vice president, he knew he had them as far back as 2017, and shared them with an author who was ghostwriting his memoir. 

Hur recommended against prosecuting Biden due to the president's age and poor memory.

Despite being subpoenaed by Congress, Attorney General Merrick Garland has held on to the tapes.

President of Judicial Watch, Tom Fitton, told the Washington Examiner that he believes this is a "desperate effort" by the Justice Department to protect Biden.