‘Presidents are not kings’: Trump appeals after federal judge refuses to withhold records from January 6 committee
As Trump digs in, majority of Americans say he and his aides should testify about January 6
“The public interest lies in permitting – not enjoining – the combined will of the legislative and executive branches to study the events that led to and occurred on January 6, and to consider legislation to prevent such events from ever occurring again,” Chutkan said.
She ruled that Trump was unlikely to succeed in the case or suffer irreparable harm from the release of the documents.
Trump “does not acknowledge the deference owed” to Biden’s judgment as the current president, Chutkan said. However, she added, “Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.”
Trump’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of of Appeals, arguing that the National Archives and Records Administration would release the documents Friday if not blocked. The case is likely to reach the Supreme Court.
Biden largely waived executive privilege on records that would be given to the committee, which include call logs, drafts of remarks and speeches and handwritten notes from Trump’s then-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, according to a court filing by the National Archives. There are also copies of talking points from then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and “a draft Executive Order on the topic of election integrity,” the National Archives has said.
Trump aides Stephen Miller, Kayleigh McEnany subpoenaed by House
The House committee is investigating what led to the deadly insurrection and what happened on Jan. 6, with a goal of preventing another attack. More than 600 people face criminal charges after a mob stormed the Capitol and temporarily halted the counting of Electoral College votes that confirmed Biden won the 2020 election. About 140 police officers were injured in the attack and police shot a woman to death outside the House chamber.