Attorneys for the Department of Justice and House of Representatives argue that Trump’s file should be turned over to the committee by January 6
Attorneys from the Justice Department – which represent the Biden administration, including the National Archives, which keeps the Trump-era records – say the House has “enough reason” to try to find out What Trump and others knew before the violence. The filing comes as Trump tries to overturn the lower court’s decision and keep the records secret.
“Different from ‘fishing’ or looking to the former President and his advisers as a ‘case study’, the Selection Committee is investigating known facts involving the former President and other officials. other White House positions and is involved in a single attack on the Capitol,” the Justice Department lawyers wrote.
The argument in the legal brief is one of the strongest language yet from the Biden administration endorsing the House probe on Trump.
“Therefore, the Selection Committee has sufficient reason to probe, among other things: (1), if any, the former President, his advisers, other government officials and close relatives. his close friends knew of the potential for the protest to turn violent; (2) when they knew it; (3) whether they sought to encourage or prevent it and the actions they took in response; and (4) how, if at all, their actions facilitated, exacerbated, or led to the violence that pervaded the protest,” lawyers from the Biden administration wrote.
Also in a court filing on Monday, House lawyers said they needed to investigate the former president’s private papers as they seek to review legislation aimed at protecting future elections. . The House wants the case soon, and lawyers have argued against letting the court process drag on.
“Future elections are imminent and there may be future attacks on democracy rooted in conduct that preceded the election,” the lawyers wrote. “The mandate of the Selection Committee to study and recommend legislation to ensure that January 6 is not repeated and that our Nation’s democracy is protected from future attacks, is urgent.” .”
To counter Trump’s claims that his public statements were available and therefore no record of White House discussions was needed, the House invoked Shakespeare.
“Any investigation that doesn’t staunchly examine Mr Trump’s documents and communications will be worse than futile – the equivalent of staging a Hamlet play without the Prince of Denmark,” the filing said. their profile said.
Both the Biden administration and the House submitted their arguments to the D.C. Court of Appeals on Monday and are unanimously convinced that Trump’s White House records relating to January 6 should be released to the House. Trump sued to keep the records secret, saying he should have a say in executive privilege claims as a former president, and lost in trial-level court.
The case examines key questions about executive privilege, congressional requirements, and the powers of a former President.
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