President DonaldTrump formally asserted executive privilege over special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
Washington - President Donald Trump formally asserted executive privilege over special counsel Robert Mueller's report Wednesday, his first use of the executive authority in the escalating confrontation with Congress.
"This decision represents a clear escalation in the Trump administration's blanket defiance of Congress's constitutionally mandated duties," Nadler said, later adding: "As a coequal branch of government, we must have access to the materials that we need to fulfill our constitutional responsibilities in a manner consistent with past precedent."
Amid a clamor from some Democrats to impeach Trump, House Democrats have pressed for the full, unredacted report and the underlying evidence. They moved to reprimand Barr for ignoring a congressional subpoena for the report. "Why this rush? Without any valid legislative or administrative reason, we can only assume Democrats, led by the chairman, have resolved to sully Bill Barr's good name and reputation," said Rep. Douglas Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
"Bill Barr is following the law and what's his response? Democrats are going to hold him contempt," said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, "I think it's all about trying to destroy Bill Barr because Democrats are nervous that he's going to get to the bottom of everything." Trump asserted executive privilege to shield the entirety of the subpoenaed materials, a protective assertion of privilege to let the president make a final decision after reviewing the materials with his lawyer.
A Justice Department official said that the assertion of executive privilege Wednesday has "no direct bearing on Special Counsel Mueller's testimony," the date and terms of which are still being discussed. But the move could limit what Mueller can say indirectly, by putting particular subject areas off limits.
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