Ex-president Trump is signaling to former aides to ignore subpoenas issued by the January 6th committee. Trump says the materials are covered by executive privilege although he is one of the few who believe that tactic will work. Politico writes:
The committee has subpoenaed documents and testimony from four Trump administration alumni: former social media czar Dan Scavino, former Defense Department official Kash Patel, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former White House adviser Steve Bannon. The four men were ordered to turn over documents related to Jan. 6 by Thursday and to sit for interviews with investigators next week.
The four could be prosecuted for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena. So, his former aides could be jailed while Trump tries to run out the clock as the cases make their way through the courts.
Most legal scholars believe executive privilege ends when a president leaves office.
Politico adds—”It also remains to be seen if the former Trump officials will follow Trump’s directions. If they are convicted of criminal contempt of Congress, they could face a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.”
“I believe this is a matter of the utmost seriousness and we need to consider the full panoply of enforcement sanctions available to us, and that means criminal contempt citations, civil contempt citations and the use of Congress’s own inherent contempt powers.”
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, Member, January 6th Committee To The Washington Post
