DOJ Wants to Scrap Watergate-Era Rule That Makes Presidential Records Public
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The Bottom Line
The DOJ is trying to scrap a Watergate-era rule that makes presidential records public property.
How This Affects You
This could prevent public access to historical documents and presidential actions, including those from the Trump administration.
AI Summary
The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued a new memorandum claiming the Presidential Records Act (PRA) is unconstitutional. This edict argues that a president’s records are private property, not public, attempting to undo nearly 50 years of transparency established after the Watergate era. The PRA, signed into law after Watergate, mandates that records of every president since Ronald Reagan are public property and must be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This reinterpretation faces legal challenges and, if it stands, would allow future presidents to claim private ownership over presidential records. This could prevent public access to historical documents, including those related to the Trump administration's actions on January 6, 2021, and communications with foreign leaders.
What's Being Done
The reinterpretation faces legal challenges.
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