Politics - News Analysis
Here are the Documents Trump is Desperately Trying to Hide From the Jan. 6 Panel and There are A LOT of Them
If the events were legal, why hide facts?
Once again, Donald Trump is attempting to invoke some sort of privilege in order to block investigators from looking at wrongdoing by his followers.
In court documents filed early Saturday, the White House Liaison for the National Archives said that Trump was seeking to withhold nearly 800 pages of potential evidence in the House investigation of the events of January 6.
Trump supporters stormed the Capitol that day, entering the building, causing massive damage, and leaving an aftermath that included the loss of 6 lives.
Among the items Trump has asked to block are presidential diaries, call transcripts, schedules, and even communications with his advisors. These documents are essential to the investigation, considering the focus of Trump’s second impeachment trial. In that case, he was charged with and convicted of inciting the attack on the Capitol. Call logs and transcripts of meetings with his advisors could help bring into focus just how extensive White House and GOP coordination with the “protesters” really was.
It’s not the first time Trump has obstructed an investigation. Most famously, just 110 days into his presidency he actually fired FBI James Comey in order to stop the Russia investigation, then bragged about having done so in an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt on live television.
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Now Trump has even more to be worried about than his own big mouth.
The first grouping of records that the former president is seeking to withhold include notes from his chief of staff at the time, Mark Meadows, as well as some of his own prepared remarks and speeches.
But the second group of records covers many of the talking points used by press secretary Kayleigh McEnany regarding “election fraud” — of which there has never been any evidence — and a draft of Trump’s speech before the crowd that eventually made its way to the Capitol.
These records, in particular, could prove to be crucial in establishing claims of incitement and coordination between the White House and the rioters, as well as detailing specific statements that led to specific crimes committed by the angry mob.
Trump has stated that he would not invoke executive privilege in this case, but current White House counsel Dana Remus says that he could not do so anyway.
Good luck, Donald. You’re going to need it.
EXPLOSIVE late-night court filing fomr National Archives details what Trump is trying to block the Jan. 6 committee from obtaining.
They include "daily presidential diaries, schedules, appointments showing White House visitors, activity logs" and records of calls to Trump/Pence.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The records include files drawn from Mark MEADOWS, Stephen MILLER, and hunreds of pages from binders of Kayleigh McAneny.
They also include a draft proclamation marking the deaths of Capitol Police officers. Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The first tranche: Meadows, Miller, Philbin, White House logs, call records >>> pic.twitter.com/H1JmBxz7AB
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The second tranche: McEnany, draft speech to "Save America" march, and "a handwritten note from former Chief
of Staff Mark Meadows’ files listing potential or scheduled briefings and telephone calls
concerning the January 6 certification," pic.twitter.com/8w8ZZxQFEQ— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The third tranche: Talking points on election "irregularities" in Michigan, an email chain from a state official,a document containing "presidential findings" on election integrity. pic.twitter.com/IN73y8ZH9x
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
TRUMP has pressed the National Archives to block 750 of the 1,600 pages identified so far as related to the Jan. 6 investigaiton — it's a far broader attempt by Trump to stifle access than previously known.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
NEWS: The National Archives has publicly identified the records Trump is trying to withhold from Jan. 6 probe:
-Call/visitor logs
-Draft speech to Jan 6 crowd
-Notes and files from Meadows, Miller, McEnany
-Emails from a “state official”Much more here:https://t.co/Q8CWpgYppr
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The Archives is joining the Jan. 6 committee in opposing Trump’s sweeping executive privilege claims.
He is attempting to block 750 of the 1,600 pages identified so far — but NARA says he can’t overrule Biden, who wants the docs out.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
The National Archives catalogue of Trump’s Jan. 6-related records is startling, but equally eye-opening is its legal takedown of Trump’s lawsuit. https://t.co/Q8CWpgYppr pic.twitter.com/RghspQPAuV
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
One factor is that presidents have throughout history waived executive privilege on matters of national significance, like Bush post-9/11 — and Trump himself when he decided not to block the Mueller report from coming out. 👀https://t.co/Q8CWpgYppr pic.twitter.com/pTyFTjy54J
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 30, 2021
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