The White House has rejected a request from former Trump deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino to invoke “executive privilege” to protect him from the House Select Committee subpoenas related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
In a letter sent to Scavino, the Biden administration said it will not assert executive privileges that could shield Scavino from being forced to answer questions about discussions in the Trump White House around January 6, 2021, or about attempts to use the Justice Department to prop up election fraud disinformation, CNN reported Monday, citing a copy of the letter.
The decision “removes the legal shield” Scavino had from being forced to testify.
“Scavino responded over the weekend, challenging whether the Biden administration has the legal authority to make executive privilege decisions related to an earlier administration as the House looks to hold him in contempt,” CNN reported.
The committee is planning to vote on recommending a criminal contempt referral tonight.