Congressman Krishnamoorthi Writes to WH Counsel and DOJ Over Concerns About President Trump’s Adherence to the Presidential Records Act
SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi sent letters to Pat Cipollone, White House Counsel, and William Barr, Attorney General, asking for information regarding President Trump's adherence to the Presidential Records Act. Congressman Krishnamoorthi's letters ask for the WH Counsel and DOJ to ensure that the Presidential Records Act is followed in the closing months of the Trump Administration, especially in light of past concerning reports that President Trump was not fully complying with it.
The Presidential Records Act states that all documents of the Presidents must be saved in the National Archives and defines "Presidential records" as "documentary materials, or any reasonably segregable portion thereof, created or received by the President, the President's immediate staff, or a unit or individual of the Executive Office of the President whose function is to advise or assist the President, in the course of conducting activities which relate to or have an effect upon the carrying out of the constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties of the President."
"The Presidential Records Act is crucial to maintaining the transparency within the Executive Office of the President, the trust between the government and the people, and the accountability of the government to the people," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. "Every document that the President interacts with is a piece of history and belongs to the people through the NARA."
Congressman Krishnamoorthi was concerned by "reports that the Trump Administration's internal processes may impede adherence to the Presidential Records Act." These issues include reports that President Trump tends to rip up pieces of paper and throw them away after reading them, that he has taken notes from his interpreter in meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that files on the treatment of undocumented immigrants are not being saved, and that members of the Executive Office of the President have been using messaging applications to conduct official business.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi asked both the WH Counsel and DOJ what steps they are taking to ensure all members of the Executive Office of the President comply with the Presidential Records Act prior to a transition to the Biden Administration in January, and he requested a response by November 23rd.
A copy of the letter to WH Counsel Cipollone is available here and a copy of the letter to Attorney General Barr is available here.