Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks Jan. 6 Committee's Request for Trump Records

A federal appeals court granted former President Donald Trump's request Thursday to temporarily block the National Archives from sending his White House records to the House select committee probing the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.

Earlier this week, a federal judge denied Trump's effort to have executive privilege shield him from the records inquiry. Trump's legal team then asked the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to delay the National Archives' request, which was scheduled to be fulfilled Friday. The appeals court judges explained that their decision to heed Trump's request was meant "to protect the court's jurisdiction to address appellant's claims of executive privilege and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits." 

Many outlets across the spectrum featured the news as their top story Thursday evening. Some left- and center-rated media highlighted the blockage's temporary nature in their headlines. Some coverage from right-rated sources noted Trump's criticism of the panel and efforts to encourage Congress to investigate his unproven claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him.