Justice Department Extends Executive Privilege Shield

Punchbowl News: “A new Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel memo released Monday says the president can assert executive privilege over communications with ‘private advisers … so long as they relate to official presidential decision making, involve or reflect communications with the President or his direct advisers, and are confidential.’”

”The OLC opinion extends that shield to the president’s direct advisers’ communications with private citizens, too.”

”That would let any president — including President Donald Trump — wall off a broad swath of communication from congressional scrutiny. It lands as Democrats look increasingly likely to win back the House – and subpoena power.”