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Trump's private advisors can now claim executive privilege with OLC
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo protecting President Trump's private advisors and attorneys under executive privilege when their communications relate to official presidential decision-making.
- The memo emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in presidential communications, including those with private citizens, to ensure informed and candid advice for decision-making.
- It highlights historical precedents of presidents seeking advice from private individuals outside the government, citing examples from Andrew Jackson to Lyndon B. Johnson.
- Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the memo as an attempt by Trump to shield himself from congressional investigations, especially with potential Democratic control of Congress after the midterm elections.
- The memo allows private advisers to claim executive privilege against congressional subpoenas, reflecting concerns about the potential personal and professional risks they face in providing candid advice.
