The appeals court rules that Trump’s former top aides must testify in the Jan. 6 case
Appeals court rules Trump’s former top aides must testify in January 6 case just hours before former president is arrested in New York
Former President Donald Trump lost a D.C. Court of Appeals ruling that impacted the Jan. 6 investigation just minutes before he drove to the District Attorney’s office at the Manhattan Courthouse.
The ruling, issued by a three-member panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, could have far-reaching implications — requiring former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and other top officials to testify.
A federal grand jury is investigating the attempt to overturn the 2020 election by Trump and some of his allies, with Special Counsel Jack Smith launching a series of swift investigative actions.
Under the sealed ruling, they will have access to some of the most knowledgeable people about machinations in the Trump White House.
The former White House chief of staff must testify before a grand jury, according to a federal appeals court ruling Tuesday
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell last month denied an attempt by Trump’s legal team to block testimony by invoking executive branch privileges.
Trump’s team filed an emergency appeal on Monday to prevent them from testifying.
The grand jury is investigating failed attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, one of two investigations into the former president being handled by special counsel Jack Smith.
The legal action was swift.
The news came shortly before former President Trump drove to the Manhattan district attorney’s office to be arrested
Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration homeland security official, is among those whose testimony Trump’s team tried to block
A three-judge panel received a response from the Justice Department within two hours of the Trump application being filed and issued its ruling early Tuesday. CNN reported.
Trump’s team could appeal based on their executive privilege claims, which relate to advice the president receives from his staff.
Trump’s team had also visited Chief Judge James Boasberg to seek an emergency stay, with the possibility that testimony could take place soon.
A string of former top Trump White House aides have been ordered to testify in the investigation.
Among them are former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino — who flew with Trump from Mar-a-Lago to New York on Monday — and former advisers Stephen Miller.
Others include former top Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli and aides Nick Luna and John McEntee.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that on Tuesday