By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON (Reuters). – Trump lawyers argued that hundreds of pages of White House documents should be withheld by a House of Representatives Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which was orchestrated by a mob of Trump supporters.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan examines the arguments of the Republican ex-president that visitor logs, phone calls and any other material requested by the Democratic committee must be kept secret.

Justin Clark, Trump’s lawyer said that this was a “major argument” and would have long-lasting consequences.

Clark claimed that Clark’s committee requests were excessive and unrelated to the legislation Congress is considering.

Chutkan expressed doubt about that argument by saying, “The Jan. 6, riot occurred in the Capitol. This is Congress’s power.

Chutkan said that Chutkan was not able to second-guess members of Congress when they request documents.

“Does Congress have to give me the specific laws they want?” Chutkan asked.

Trump on Oct. 18 sued the nine-member select House committee, arguing that the requested materials were covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege https://www.reuters.com/world/us/can-trump-use-executive-privilege-block-jan-6-attack-probe-2021-09-09 that protects the confidentiality of some White House communications. Trump was removed from office January 20.

The U.S. National Archives was requested by the committee to provide the material.

After the filing of the lawsuit, Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson (the committee’s chair) and Republican Representative Liz Cheney (its vice-chair), stated in a joint statement that Trump wanted to “delay” and “obstruct” the investigation.

Cheney and Thompson stated that it was difficult to think of a greater public interest than to find answers to questions about an attack against democracy and an attempt at overturning election results.

Trump delivered an incendiary speech prior to the deadly riot, repeating false allegations that the November 2020 elections were stolen from him by widespread voter fraud. He urged his supporters to march to the Capitol to fight like hell to stop the theft. He and his supporters stormed Capitol to try to block Congress from officially recognising Joe Biden’s win. Biden was officially admitted to the White House in January 20.

It has stated that it requires the requested documents to fully understand Trump’s role in the outbreak of the riot. The committee stated that the request is within its power and was made in order to understand the causes and facts surrounding the riot, and develop legislation to prevent similar attacks in the future.

About 700 were charged with criminal offenses in connection to the riot.

The House on Oct. 21 voted to hold Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in contempt of Congress https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-edges-toward-contempt-charges-against-trump-aide-bannon-2021-10-21 for refusing to cooperate with the investigation. Bannon refuses to answer subpoenas by the Committee for documents and testimony. This is despite Trump’s claim – sometimes disputed by legal scholars – that executive privilege covers his communications.

Bannon must be charged criminally by the Justice Department.