The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled unanimously today that failed, one-term former President Donald cannot keep archived White House records from his administration hidden from the House Select Committee on the January 6 riots.
In a devastating ruling, the court of appeals explained why Trump has no “executive privilege” right to keep his documents from the committee: Because Congress has a direct interest in investigating an attack that was clearly launched on the legislative branch of the U.S. government, writing:
“The January 6th Committee has also demonstrated a sound factual predicate for requesting these presidential documents specifically. There is a direct linkage between the former President and the events of the day.”
Be sure and read that paragraph carefully. The second highest court in this country just linked Trump to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. That alone makes it clear the ex-president is facing a range of charges, including inciting a riot, inciting an insurrection against the United States, and other crimes against the country.
The judges even laid out exactly how Trump was responsible for inciting the violence that took place on Jan. 6:
“Then-President Trump called for his supporters to gather in Washington, D.C. for a ‘wild’ response to what he had been alleging for months was a stolen election. On January 6th, President Trump directed his followers to go to the Capitol and ‘fight’ for their Country with the aim of preventing Congress’s certification of the electoral vote.”
Since the White House serves as “the hub for intelligence about threats of violent action against the government, and the Executive Branch is in charge of federal law enforcement,” the judges noted, its only logical for a congressional investigation to request White House documents that will help shed light on what transpired on that fateful January day earlier this year.
Trump can still appeal today’s ruling to the Supreme Court, but legal experts say it’s unlikely the high court will decide to take up the case since it deals with already settled precedents and rulings.
If the Supreme Court does reject Trump’s appeal, the House Select Committee could have the documents it has requested by as soon as early next year.
