Senate Democrats press White House over loosened record-keeping policy
Summary
Senate Democrats are concerned that the Trump administration's new rules on keeping presidential records could allow important documents to be destroyed illegally. They are asking the White House for assurances that these records will continue to be preserved, following a legal opinion that challenges the constitutionality of the Presidential Records Act, a law passed after Watergate to protect presidential documents.Key Facts
- A group of 13 Senate Democrats sent a letter to the White House expressing concern over loosened rules for keeping presidential records.
- The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) recently said the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional.
- The Presidential Records Act was passed in 1978 after the Watergate scandal to keep presidential records public, not private.
- White House Counsel David Warrington issued new guidance for staff that reflects this opinion and changes record retention policies.
- Democrats worry the administration might unlawfully destroy important records protected by the law.
- The senators referenced President Trump's past legal issues related to handling classified documents.
- The law requires presidents to turn over their official records to the National Archives within 12 years after leaving office.
- Every president since Ronald Reagan has followed this law until now.
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