Exclusive: Trump's DOJ says he's not required to turn over official records - axios.com
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
Trump's Justice Department claims the president is exempt from returning official records, contradicting federal records law.
How This Affects You
This could shield government documents from public disclosure, potentially limiting your access to records about executive decisions affecting your rights, health, or finances.
AI Summary
The Trump Justice Department has asserted that President Trump is not required to turn over official records, according to an Axios exclusive. This position reflects a legal argument about executive privilege and presidential authority over documents created during his administration. The stance could affect ongoing disputes over records from Trump's first term and current administration, potentially shielding documents from Congress, courts, or other entities seeking them. The assertion marks a significant shift from how previous administrations have handled similar requests and could trigger legal challenges from lawmakers or other parties with competing claims to those documents.
What's Being Done
Legal challenges from lawmakers or other parties with competing claims to documents are expected.
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
Government TransparencyExclusive: Trump's DOJ says he's not required to turn over official records
<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a>'s Justice Department has concluded that a federal law requiring presidential records to be turned over to the government is unconstitutional, a senior White House official tells Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The finding is an indication Trump will be reluctant to give all of his official records to the National Archives at the end of his term, as presidents have done for nearly a half-century under the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-presidential-records-fbi-warrant" target="_blank">Presidential Records Act</a> of 1978.</p><hr><ul><li>The law, passed in the post-Watergate era as a hedge against government corruption, states that every official record regarding a president's decisions or policies belongs to the U.S. government, not the president.</li></ul><p><strong>Trump has shown </strong>that he disagrees with the law.</p><ul><li>When he left office i...
National SecurityExclusive: US counterterror officials plan antifa summit, sources say - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNYVg4Q1Zjc1c0T216YUhIT01ZaGgwWGtyME1WY2JjeGdQU2poWG5jd0pxbnVkZnNJVS02N25heGhPem9jYXBIOUxQQVF6TnBBbWptN003cmRBVVN4M2hzWVJRNG9UaURmelJfUzF3V3RXc2tYNXN6VFg2ckVndHcxXzVBT0E0dnE1cDMwVkNuZGJUcHd0RUZTZTNwTzRyN3dSSVdURQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Exclusive: US counterterror officials plan antifa summit, sources say</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
Government TransparencyDOJ says Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional
The opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel said that because it believes the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, President Trump does not need to comply with it.
Government TransparencyDOJ concludes presidential records requirement unconstitutional
A federal law requiring presidents to preserve and hand over presidential records to the government at the conclusion of their term is unconstitutional, according to a legally nonbinding Justice Department opinion. The 52-page opinion, first reported by Axios, found that the Presidential Records Act of 1978 exceeds congressional authority and “unconstitutionally intrudes on the…
Government TransparencyTrump does not have to turn over presidential records, Justice Department says - NBC News
Government TransparencyJustice Department says law requiring president to turn over records at end of administration is unconstitutional - CBS News
Trump's VA killed a home loan program. Vets are now losing their homes because of it
Foreclosures on VA loans are at their highest level in a decade. VA has a fix but it is months away and could still leave vets worse off than most other homeowners.
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
'The gravest crime against humanity': What does the UN vote on slavery mean?
After 16 years and $8 billion, the military's new GPS software still doesn't work
US paves way for private assets to be included in 401(k) retirement plans - Reuters
The Justice Department plans to share sensitive voter data with Homeland Security
Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden accidentally shoots himself in leg at airport - AP News
