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January 1, Court Rejects Trump’s Efforts to Shield Records from Jan. 6 Panel

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2021

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base on Monday, December 2, 2019, in Maryland. The President and First Lady will be traveling to the United Kingdom for NATO 2019. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

A federal appeals court denied former President Donald Trump’s effort to block the National Archives from providing his White House’s records to the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

In a 68-page ruling, the three-judge panel for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously dismissed Trump’s executive privilege claims, which his lawyers argued would prevent the Biden administration from sharing the documents.

“On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Biden’s judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents,” Judge Patricia Millett wrote.

“Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee’s inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power.”

All three judges were nominated by Democrats. Former President Barack Obama nominated Millett and Judge Robert Wilkins, and President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.