The White House has declined a request from former President Donald Trump to withhold documents from the House committee investigating the 6 January Capitol riots.
NBC Newshas obtained a letter sent to the National Archives in which White House Counsel Dana Remus formally rejected an attempt by Mr Trump’s legal team to prevent the documents from being shared with the 6 January committee.
Mr Trump is claiming his communications on the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol was protected under executive privilege.
“President Biden has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States, and therefore is not justified as to any of the documents,” Ms Remus writes.
“These are unique and extraordinary circumstances,” Remus added. “Congress is examining an assault on our Constitution and democratic institutions provoked and fanned by those sworn to protect them, and the conduct under investigation extends far beyond typical deliberations concerning the proper discharge of the President’s constitutional responsibilities.”
