Trump Sues House Jan. 6 Committee, National Archives to Block Records Request
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit Monday against the House's Jan. 6 Committee and the National Archives in an effort to keep his presidential records classified.
The court filing cites executive privilege, and argues that the committee’s request is too broad and amounts to an "illegal fishing expedition." Committee members called Trump's lawsuit "an attempt to delay and obstruct our probe." The committee is seeking a wide range of records from Trump's time in office in connection with its investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, including the former president's discussions with lawyers, advisors, other politicians and world leaders. On Oct. 8, the White House said it wouldn't allow Trump to use executive privilege to block the records requests.
The news was covered across the spectrum. Some reports from left-rated sources highlighted the violent events of Jan. 6 and described Trump's efforts to avoid the probe as "aggressive." Coverage from right-rated outlets focused more on the details of Trump's lawsuit.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Trump Sues House Jan. 6 Committee, National ArchivesFormer President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Monday in a Washington D.C. court against the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol incident and against the National Archives in a bid to keep his presidential records classified, citing executive privilege.
Trump’s court filing, namely, argues (pdf) that the committee’s records request is too broad and doesn’t serve any legislative purpose.
“The Committee’s request amounts to nothing less than a vexatious, illegal fishing expedition openly endorsed by [President Joe] Biden and designed to unconstitutionally investigate President Trump and his administration,” the...
From the Left
Trump sues National Archives, Jan. 6 committee to block records requestPresident Trump filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the National Archives from releasing White House records to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, citing executive privilege.
Why it matters: It's the latest escalation in Trump's campaign to disrupt the committee's sweeping probe into the circumstances surrounding Jan. 6, including his actions and communications leading up to the Capitol attack.
The big picture: Trump has already attempted to assert executive privilege to block former aides from testifying, despite subpoenas issued by the committee.
The committee will vote Tuesday evening on...
From the Left
Jan. 6 panel plans contempt vote as Trump sues over probeA House committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection is moving swiftly Tuesday to hold at least one of Donald Trump’s allies in contempt as the former president is pushing back on the probe in a new lawsuit.
Trump is aggressively trying to block the committee’s work by directing former White House aide Steve Bannon not to answer questions in the probe while also suing the panel to try to prevent Congress from obtaining former White House documents. But lawmakers on the House committee say they will not back down as they...
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