Last month, Special Counsel Robert Hur published his findings from his investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents. Among the findings, Mr. Hur said in 2016 then-Vice President Biden read off notebook entries, including several that covered classified materials, as he and Mr. Zwonitzer prepared his book "Promise Me Dad," published in 2017.

The special counsel report, released on Feb. 8, further alleges Mr. Zwonitzer deleted some of his audio recordings with President Biden at some point during the special counsel investigation.

Mr. Jordan's subpoena brings legal force to Republican efforts to compel Mr. Zwonitzer to share any audio or video recordings or transcripts he has from his conversations with President Biden.

House Republicans had initially reached out to Mr. Zwonitzer on Feb. 14, asking for his records ghostwriting the president's book.

According to Mr. Jordan's account, the ghostwriter's lawyer initially indicated his client would turn over the requested documents by March 8. But by March 7, Mr. Zwonitzer's lawyer sent a new notice delaying the document production and informing the committee he would need to follow up with his client. Mr. Zwonitzer's lawyer then sent a follow-up March 11 notice informing the committee that his client would not turn over the requested documents unless he was subpoenaed.

In his Feb. 14 letter, Mr. Jordan requested documents and records from Mr. Zwonitzer's ghostwriting work on "Promise Me Dad" as well as a biography he had written with then-Sen. Biden published in 2008 called "Promises to Keep." The Feb. 14 letter also requested any records of contracts or agreements Mr. Zwonitzer had for the ghostwriting work he did. Republicans had also asked Mr. Zwonitzer to provide any documents and communications shared between him and President Biden or his staff relating to Mr. Hur's special counsel investigation.