The Justice Department (DOJ) formally Declined to assert Executive Privilege for Potential Testimony of, at least Some Witnesses related to the January 6th Capitol Attack.
The Decision, paves the way for some former DOJ Officials, to Testify on what they Witnessed in the Chaotic days between Trump's November Election loss and early January 2021, when he tried to use the DOJ and other Means to advance False Claims that he Won.
Among the Potential Witnesses from which a Special Select Committee Investigating the January 6th Insurrection is expected to seek Testimony is, Jeffrey Rosen, who was Acting Attorney General in late December 2020, and until the Inauguration of President Biden.
Rosen and other Justice Officials, were at the Center of a Pressure Campaign by Trump and other White House Officials, to back his Claims of Vote Fraud.
Frustrated that the Justice Department, didn't find Evidence of Fraud, Trump contemplated Replacing Rosen with Jeffrey Clark, another DOJ Official who Signaled Support for the Fraud Claims.
Rosen and a Group of Top DOJ Officials prepared to Resign, if Clark were made Acting Attorney General.
The DOJ's Decision applies to Former Justice Employees, who may be subject to a Different Standard under Executive Privilege.
DOJ notified former Officials in a Letter, Monday, that they were Free to Provide "unrestricted testimony" and "irrespective of potential privilege," according to the Letter.
The House Oversight and Senate Judiciary Committees had asked the DOJ to allow some Former Officials to Testify about their Interactions with Trump and other White House Officials, the Letter said.
The new House Select Committee Investigating the Capitol Riot could seek Testimony. "The extraordinary events in this matter constitute exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress in this case," the Letter from Bradley Weinsheimer, Associate Deputy Attorney General, says.
The Letter notes that the Department consulted with the White House Counsel's Office, which conveyed President Biden's Decision Not to invoke Executive Privilege.
The move is among Two Politically-Sensitive Matters. facing Attorney General, Merrick Garland, this week.
Later Tuesday, the DOJ is facing a Deadline to tell a Federal Judge whether it Plans to Shield Rep. Mo Brook Jr. (R-AL, 5th District), who is a Defendant, in a Lawsuit brought by Rep. Eric Swallwell (D-CA, 15th District), over Brooks's Incendiary Rally Speech to the Pro-Trump Crowd before the January 6th Attack on the Capitol.
Brooks has argued that the DOJ should take over his Defense because he was Acting as a Member of Congress at the Political Rally.
Some Liberals have been Critical of Garland, for his efforts to Restore the DOJ's Institutional Norms, which have included Aligning with some Trump-era Decisions made by the DOJ. Among those: the DOJ continued to Defend Trump in a Lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump, of Sexually Assaulting her and was Suing Trump for Defamation.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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