Trump does not have to turn over presidential records, Justice Department says - NBC News

NBC News
April 2, 2026
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3 min read

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Justice Department ruled Trump does not have to turn over presidential records, reversing Biden administration position.

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The Justice Department has determined that Trump does not have to turn over presidential records, reversing the position taken during the Biden administration. The shift reflects the Trump administration's legal stance on executive privilege and control of presidential documents. This decision affects ongoing disputes over access to records from Trump's first term, including materials sought by Congress and potential legal proceedings. The reversal is significant because it grants the sitting president broad authority to withhold documents, a power that typically expands during a president's tenure. The ruling eliminates a previous legal obstacle to Trump's control of the records in question.

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