Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks Jan 6th Committee From Obtaining Trump’s WH Documents
In what the right will call a major victory–but is really just a brief roadblock–a federal appeals court has granted a request from Donald Trump to temporarily block the National Archives from turning over his White House records to the House committee investigating the January 6th riot at the Capitol.
Late Thursday, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted Trump “an administrative injunction” in a brief unsigned order with no noted dissents. The court has set arguments for the case on November 30th.
The House Select Committee had been set to receive the first batch of documents, which lawmakers say is key to their investigation, on Friday. In papers filed with the appeals court Thursday morning, lawyers for Trump asked the court to temporarily delay the turnover and “maintain the status quo” while they push ahead with an expedited appeal.
Will some judge, some jury, some court somewhere ever STOP this man from destroying the country?
Or is it up to us, the voters?https://t.co/OeEmK1CCVZ
— E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) November 11, 2021
Courts often issue these types of injunctions to allow more time to consider the underlying issues. The order, which was not a ruling on whether Trump or the House committee has a stronger legal argument, was issued by Judges Patricia Millett, Robert Wilkins, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all appointed by Democratic presidents. Millett and Wilkins were appointed by former President Barack Obama. President Joe Biden appointed Jackson.
Just in: Trump has now asked the DC Circuit for a temporary "administrative" injunction to stop the Archives from turning over his White House records to the Jan. 6 committee (set to happen tomorrow) while he pursues a full appeal https://t.co/D5E1ymERJZ pic.twitter.com/6WzpKV7DAk
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) November 11, 2021
Trump has tried to claim executive privilege over the scores of memos, e-mails, and records of White House conversations and visits, and contends the records should be kept secret “in perpetuity.”
Just in: US appeal court for DC Circuit grants temporary stay on Trump executive privilege decision over the release of White House records to Jan. 6 select committee — oral arguments set for Nov. 30
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) November 11, 2021
[This is a developing and continuing story, please check back for details]