US Federal court rejects Trump's attempt to hide capitol records
The former president's efforts at hiding the phone records and documents relating to the January 6 attack have failed and could possibly be turned over to a congressional panel.
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The former president has been repeatedly accused of inciting the violence on January 6 (Reuters)
Former US President Donald Trump has had his appeal of hiding records related to the January 6 capitol storming rejected.
As a former president, Trump attempted to use his executive privilege to hide the records, however, the US Federal court of appeals decided that the current president could override this privilege and have the documents reviewed by a Congressional panel to investigate Trump supporters' violence on the day.
Trump has been repeatedly accused of inciting the violence that occurred.
The court of appeals detailed that "the right of a former president certainly enjoys no greater weight than that of the incumbent."
Trump's "position that he may override the express will of the executive branch appears to be premised on the notion that his executive power 'exists in perpetuity,' US District Judge Tanya Chutka previously wrote. "But Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President."
On January 6, hundreds of supporters of former US President Donald Trump’s stormed the US Capitol in a bid to overturn his election defeat, battling police in the hallways and delaying the certification of US President-elect Joe Biden’s victory for hours. US Capitol riots ended with four deaths, according to local police.
Documents were not immediately released, and Trump's attorneys have two weeks to file an appeal with the Supreme court.
Obstructing the truth
The appeals court detailed that the public interest in the documents, which are maintained by the National Archives, surpasses Trump's interests.
"That public interest is heightened when, as here, the legislature is proceeding with urgency to prevent violent attacks on the federal government and disruptions to the peaceful transfer of power," it said.
Trump also attempted to prevent the accounts of the White House Daily Diary, which chronicles a detailed record of his daily activities, meetings, and phone calls.
In addition, documents from his senior advisers and memos to his former press secretary.
"No one can be allowed to stand in the way of the truth – particularly not the previous President, who incited the insurrection."
Read More: Trump Sues January 6 Panel Over Probe
Over 600 people are facing accusations over their role in the insurgence; however, the committee is currently aiming to hold Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist, and Trump's Counselor, in criminal contempt of congress for his defiance of the committee's demands for documents and testimony.
The resolution lists the many ways Bannon was involved in the leadup to the insurrection, including reports that he encouraged the former president to focus on January 6, the day of the certification of Biden's victory. He also made a comment on January 5, saying, "All hell is going to break loose" the next day.
