"We will fight the subpoenas on executive privilege and other grounds for the good of our country," Trump said after the select committee announced the subpoenas. Donald Trump speaks during a rally on Jan 6, 2021. (File photo by=AP/Evan Vucci) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] WASHINGTON: Court documents released Monday (Oct 18) show that Donald Trump is suing to block the release of White House records related to the Jan 6 insurrection that he’s impeached for inciting, AFP said.
The former president claims"executive privilege" to stop former aides giving evidence to Congress, in an escalation of his efforts to stonewall investigators looking into the deadly Capitol assault. The challenge will likely touch off an extended high-stakes showdown in the courts that will test the constitutional authority of Congress to scrutinize the executive branch. Congressional investigators are seeking testimony from officials who could speak to what Trump, who is considering running for a second term in 2024, knew about the attack beforehand, and what he did while it was ongoing.
Since late August, the National Archives has been sending Biden and Trump's voluminous records requested by investigators, giving them 30 days to review materials.The lawsuit calls for a federal judge to declare any request from the committee to be invalid and to block the National Archives from turning over any materials. Meanwhile, the former president has already demanded that top aides, from his final chief of staff Mark Meadow