OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A federal appeals court panel denied Donald Trump’s effort to block White House records from House Democrats January 6 Commission.
In a 68-page opinion from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the judges — which were appointed by Democrat presidents — claimed there was an urgent national interest in the Democrats’ investigation into the incident at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
“The January 6th Committee has … demonstrated a sound factual predicate for requesting these presidential documents specifically,” Judge Patricia Millett wrote for the three-member panel. “There is a direct linkage between the former President and the events of the day.”
“On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Biden’s judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents,” Millett wrote, joined by Judges Robert Wilkins and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee’s inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power,” Millett added.
Millett and Wilkins were appointed by former President Barack Obama, while Jackson was appointed to the D.C. Circuit by Joe Biden.
Last month, Trump secured a victory after the federal appeals court temporarily blocked the release of his White House records pertaining to his activities on January 6.
“Trump has sued to prevent the release of the records, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a temporary injunction in order to consider the former president’s arguments. A three-judge panel, all appointed by Democratic presidents, scheduled a November 30 hearing for oral arguments in the case,” the National Review reported.
“The records sought by the House committee include visitor records, call logs, and documents from former Trump staffers. The court injunction prevents the scheduled release of 70 pages of records on Friday and the release of hundreds of other documents initially set for November 26,” the outlet reported.
Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan says the Democrats committee investigating the incident at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 is a “complete assault on Americans’ liberty.”
Jordan, who has called for an investigation into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over her role that day, went off when discussing the committee approving a criminal contempt report to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress.
“There’s been subpoenas issued to 11 individuals, 11 American citizens who asked the government permission on an application to hold the Trump rally,” Jordan said.
“The government granted it and now the January 6 committee petitions them to ask them questions about exercising their First Amendment right to assemble,” he added.
“And why would they subpoena me? I didn’t do anything wrong — I talked to the president,” Mr. Jordan told the Washington Post. “I talk to the president all the time. I just think that’s — you know where I’m at on this commission — this is all about going after President Trump. That seems obvious.”
“And they told these companies that, by the way, don’t let the person we’re telling you to preserve information for, don’t let them know as the law requires, don’t let them know that we’ve asked you to do this,” he said.
“This is scary where they want to go and what they’re doing to Americans’ constitutional rights. And finally, I would ask the fundamental question, how would you expect witnesses to participate when you wouldn’t let Republicans participate in the committee? How can you do that? We know what this is about, it’s plain and simple, this is about they’ve got nothing else to talk about.”
Back in July, Jordan called for an investigation into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik also called for “radical authoritarian” Pelosi to be fired after the latest stunt from Democrats.
Pelosi rejected the appointments of Republican Reps. Jim Jordan and Jim Banks to the January 6 Commission.
