Summary
President Donald Trump has claimed executive privilege to block access to certain records related to the January 6 Capitol riot in a lawsuit. The lawsuit is about accusations that he incited violence that day. While specific details of the records aren't clear, this move is a legal strategy to prevent the release of documents from the National Archives.
Key Facts
- President Trump claimed executive privilege to stop access to certain records in a lawsuit related to the January 6 Capitol riot.
- Executive privilege allows a president to keep some presidential communications private.
- The lawsuit accuses Trump of encouraging the violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
- On January 6, 2021, supporters of Trump attacked the Capitol to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s election win.
- An investigation found the shooting of Ashli Babbitt by police during the riot was justified.
- Lawyers for police officers injured in the riot say they have faced long delays in accessing records from Trump’s first term.
- In 2022, the Supreme Court decided that Trump could not use executive privilege to block release of records to the January 6 committee.
- Trump pardoned many individuals connected to the Capitol riot after taking office on January 20, 2025.
