The White House said US President Donald Trump will not block former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey from testifying at the ongoing Senate hearing, Trump has opted not to invoke executive privilege, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a spokeswoman said on Monday at a White House press conference.
The executive privilege of the president
“The President’s power to invoke executive privilege is clearly stated. However, in order to make it easier for a smooth and thorough examination of the information needed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, President Trump will not exercise executive privilege in regards to Comey’s testimony before Congress,” she said.
The announcement came amid rumors that President Trump would attempt to block James Comey, who is hoped to provide detailed information about his controversial conversations with Trump, from appearing to testify.
Comey’s account is expected to be closely followed and viewed throughout the country, where the main point is on Russia’s alleged role in the 2016 campaign leading to the presidential election, relationship of Trump’s associates and aids with Russia and an alleged attempt by President to interfere with the investigation using Comey, who was the FBI director.
Trump's alleged interference
Trump was said to have demanded that the former FBI director drop the investigation into Michael Flynn former national security adviser affairs with Russia, according to source, Comey’s conversations with Trump were written in memos by the former FBI boss.
The Senate committee is expected to demand that comey hand over the memos on Thursday.
Executive privilege is a power invested on the president that allows the commander in chief to enjoy free conversations with his advisers, aides and associates.
Trump's aides Russian connection
Trump aides previously said that President Trump was considering all legal options in regards to James Comey whom he fired.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said no decision has been made by the White House Counsel on Friday.
Though some Congress Republican members urged President Trump to block Comey from testifying, many legal experts said Trump has already used his executive privilege since he spoke about the conversations he and Comey had and tweeted same as well.
In a tweet in May Trump said Comey should hope there are no recorded tapes of their conversation before he starts leaking to the media.
Members of the Senate intelligence committee said on Monday that they didn’t think President Trump would exert executive privilege, arguing that they had not been informed that he would do so.
