Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to block Capitol attack papers

The former president cited executive privilege in his attempt to keep secret the documents held by the National Archives.

Donald Trump addresses supporters at a rally in Florence, Arizona, at the weekend. Picture: AFP

The Supreme Court on Thursday AEDT rejected a bid by former president Donald Trump to block the release to a congressional committee of documents related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Mr Trump, citing executive privilege, had sought to prevent the documents held by the National Archives from being given to the committee investigating the assault on Congress by Trump supporters.

The former president, who has been accused of fomenting the assault on the Capitol, had asked the nation’s highest court to stay a ruling this month by a federal appeals court which rejected his attempt to keep the documents and records secret.

But the Supreme Court, in an 8-1 vote, refused to issue a stay and upheld the appeals court ruling.

Clarence Thomas, a conservative, was the only judge in favour of issuing a stay.

Mr Trump had sought to exercise his privilege as a former president to keep under wraps White House records and communications that might relate to the attack.

AFP