Court: Trump must not withhold documents about Capitol storming

Former US President Donald Trump is not allowed to hide documents about the storming of the Capitol by his supporters from the committee investigating the January 6 uprising. That has been decided by a Washington Court of Appeals, AP reports.

The Court rejected Trump’s argument that the documents, requested by the House of Representatives Committee of Inquiry, would fall under a presidential privilege of secrecy. According to the judges, there is “no basis” for this.

According to the committee, the documents, including White House visitor information, telephone records and notes from advisers, are critical to investigating the day’s events. They should provide insight into Trump’s actions in the run-up to January 6 and on the day itself.

President Joe Biden previously decided that the documents, owned by the executive branch, were not a presenting privilege and that the National Archives could turn them over to Congress. Trump then went to court.

Unique parliamentary need

However, the Court agreed with Biden that “there is a unique parliamentary need for these documents, and that they are directly relevant to the commission’s investigation into the attack on the legislature and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.” ”. The ruling is a setback for Trump in a legal battle with the commission over access to documents and witnesses.

The Court of Appeal, agreeing with a lower court, had ordered the National Archives to hold off on handing over the documents while the case was pending. Trump has two weeks to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. There is a good chance that the former president will. The nine-member Supreme Court has a majority of six conservative senior justices, including three nominated by Trump.

Members of the Commission of Inquiry welcomed the ruling. “We will find the truth,” they said in a statement.

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