Trump Asserts Executive Privilege Over Mueller Report

The Washington Post reports:

The White House formally asserted executive privilege over special counsel Robert S Mueller III’s report Wednesday, President Trump’s first use of the executive authority in the latest confrontation with Congress.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd wrote in a letter to Congress that Trump had “asserted executive privilege over the entirety of the subpoenaed materials.” Boyd wrote that Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler’s push to hold Barr in contempt had “terminated” their negotiations over what materials lawmakers would be allowed to view from Mueller’s investigation.

“As we have repeatedly explained, the Attorney General could not comply with your subpoena in its current form without violating the law, court rules, and court orders, and without threatening the independence of the Department of Justice’s prosecutorial functions,” Boyd wrote.

Breaking News: President Trump asserted executive privilege on the unredacted Mueller report in an effort to shield its hidden portions from Congress https://t.co/SQ75Fgks3W

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 8, 2019

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler on President Trump asserting executive privilege over the Mueller report: “This decision represents a clear escalation in the Trump administration’s blanket defiance of Congress’ constitutionally mandated duties” pic.twitter.com/P8kCsSdBBD

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 8, 2019

Trump tries to exert executive privilege over the entire Mueller report.

Sarah Sanders: “Faced with Chairman Nadler’s blatant abuse of power, and at the Attorney General’s request, the President has no other option than to make a protective assertion of executive privilege.”

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2019