Trump's Bid To Keep Jan. 6 Panel Away From His White House Documents Rejected by Appeals Court

Former President Donald Trump's White House documents can be accessed by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot after a few days as the federal appeals court Thursday denied his bid to block the records. But Trump might take the case to the Supreme Court.

Following the ruling, Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington said in a statement, "regardless of today's decision by the appeals court, this case was always destined for the Supreme Court."

She added that his duty to defend the Office of the Presidency and the Constitution continues, and that "he will keep fighting for every American and every future Administration" of the country.

On Jan. 6, a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol in order to create obstacles in the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. Five people died and many were left injured following the attack, which is being investigated by a select committee in the House of Representatives.

Trump and some of his aides have repeatedly refused to cooperate with the committee and engaged in legal action over the panel's investigations. But the United States court of appeals for the District of Columbia said that there was a “unique legislative need” for the requested White House records, whose release Trump has sought to keep secret by using executive privilege, reported The Guardian.

The court said that for 14 days, it will leave in place its temporary block on releasing the records to allow the former President time to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, according to npr.

Trump took the legal route against the committee and the National Archives to stop the White House from giving permission to the release of records related to the Jan. 6 incident. The former President's executive privilege claims were waived by Biden as the current officeholder.

Judge Patricia Ann Millett wrote in a 68-page ruling that on the record before the judges, Trump had 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.” She added that the President and the legislative branch have "shown a national interest in and pressing need for the prompt disclosure of these documents.”

According to CNN, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney applauded "the Court's decisive ruling, which respects the Select Committee's interest in obtaining White House records and the President's judgment in allowing those records to be produced."