Throughout his time in the White House, former President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed executive privilege and deployed dragged out legal maneuvers to escape any congressional oversight and any public disclosure of his financial records.
Recently, the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection—when a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol on Trump's behalf—issued a wave of subpoenas to investigate Trump's actions leading up to the riots.
In addition to subpoenaing the National Archives for documents, the committee is seeking communications and testimony from Trump allies like his former Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.
While Trump can be sure Bannon and Scavino will go to lengths to avoid testimony, the Biden administration has waived executive privilege for the 40-odd documents the committee subpoenaed from the National Archives.
As a result, Trump has sued the committee in an effort to block, or at least delay, the release of the documents, claiming the subpoenas "are unprecedented in their breadth and scope and are untethered from any legitimate legislative purpose."
Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington shared Trump's comments on Twitter.
NEW!\n\nMemo on President Donald J. Trump's Lawsuit to Defend Executive Privilege, U.S. Constitutionpic.twitter.com/LsLyJbbA6s— Liz Harrington (@Liz Harrington) 1634592581
In a joint statement Select Committee Chair Bennie Thompson—a Mississippi Democrat—and Republican ranking member Liz Cheney of Wyoming said:
"[T]he former President's clear objective is to stop the Select Committee from getting to the facts about January 6th and his lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to delay and obstruct our probe. Precedent and law are on our side."
Given Trump's history, few were surprised that Trump was scrambling to stall the documents' release.
Trump has repeatedly mischaracterized the riots as a peaceful gathering of patriots, leaving many to wonder why he's going to such lengths to keep his actions a secret.
This reeks of guilt.https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Monica Fraker (@Monica Fraker) 1634589755
Because that's what an innocent man does.https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Clear Cider (@Clear Cider) 1634589928
Trump vs America : again. Nothing to hide though. He just openly incited an attack on congress in broad daylighthttps://twitter.com/cnnpolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Luke Zaleski (@Luke Zaleski) 1634590509
What are you hiding Donald?https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Peter Bentley (@Peter Bentley) 1634633771
if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear.https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude6c\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude63 (@\ud835\ude42\ud835\ude6c\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude63) 1634589734
Innocent people have nothing to hide. \n\nInnocent people do not spend decades suing everyone, just to keep their records hidden in frantic attempts to delay accountability.\n\nThere is nothing innocent about this person.https://twitter.com/cnnpolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Naofumi Iwatani (@Naofumi Iwatani) 1634596699
Few were surprised at Trump's strategy.
And in the LEAST shocking news of the day\u2026\u2026https://twitter.com/cnnpolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Rhonda Lynn (@Rhonda Lynn) 1634592935
The reality star can't face reality. Imagine that https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1450199680806232066\u00a0\u2026— Elizabeth F. (@Elizabeth F.) 1634591354
What's unclear is if Trump's tactics will allow the investigation to stall until after the midterms, when Republicans could retake the House and do away with the committee all together.
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