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In a landmark ruling that could expose sensitive conversations from his time as vice president, a federal judge has rejected former President Joe Biden’s desperate attempt to block the Justice Department from handing over hours of nearly decade-old audio recordings to the Heritage Foundation.

Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, sided with the conservative think tank Friday, concluding that Biden’s privacy concerns — while “substantial” — are ultimately outweighed by the strong public interest in the materials. The judge personally reviewed the redacted files and emphasized they contain no sensitive family information.

Biden’s legal team immediately filed for an injunction pending appeal, but the decision marks a significant victory for transparency advocates who have long sought access to the tapes.

The audio files come from 2017 interviews Biden conducted with author Mark Zwonitzer for a memoir about the death of his son Beau. They were later obtained by Special Counsel Robert Hur during his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. While Hur declined to charge the then-sitting president, the recordings have become a flashpoint in debates over accountability and executive privilege.

The Heritage Foundation argues the tapes could contain evidence related to how Biden managed sensitive information. The ruling highlights a broader tension in Washington: how much privacy should former presidents retain versus the public’s right to know, especially when national security and transparency are at stake.

This case is far from over, but Friday’s decision brings the audio one step closer to potential public release — and could reignite intense political scrutiny over Biden’s past conduct at a time when his legacy remains hotly contested.