Now, he’s shrugging off a law Congress passed decades ago to preserve White House papers — and historians are taking him to court.

At stake is the fate of millions of papers and electronic messages — not just for Trump’s second term in office, but for future presidents and people who want to understand them.

Matthew Connelly, a history professor at Columbia University, says the move shows Trump is trying to ensure the presidency “is answerable to no one, not even the court of history.”

“This latest case is just another example of the utter contempt with which they hold not just history but the rights of their fellow citizens to hold them to account,” he said, about the current administration.

  • IHeartBadCode@fedia.io
    42·
    3 days ago

    The issue here is a weak Congress that keeps not using the one process that the people who made this country put in there to ensure that Congress reminds the President that “uh huh, you do have to have some accountability.”

    And they keep not using that one process because they’ve wholly abandoned the notion of “country first”.

    • Holytimes@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      9·
      2 days ago

      To be fair the entire government has ignored 90% of everything the founding fathers put in to ensure things ran smoothly.

      Half because a lot of it was bullshit made up by a bunch of jaded tired rich white folk who basically spent their entire lives either having no responsibility or too much responsibility.

      Half because congress realized by fucking everything they could work even less then they needed too while making more money and having more power.

      Also racism.

      • 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        23·
        1 day ago

        To be fair the entire government has ignored 90% of everything the founding fathers put in to ensure things ran smoothly.

        Oh my sweet summer child, the founding scoundrels plan is going according to plan.

        Which was “for rich by the rich.” from the very beginning.

        Maybe read a history book and not Hollywood movies for history lessons next time.

        • onion_dude@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          1 day ago

          Just sharing a thought in case you’re open to it.

          Its great reading threads where people debate and counter each other. It can change and shape my opinions on all kinds of subjects. But when the threads just name calling it feels kind of gross, and is a real put off the opinions being shared.

          You seem to know the subject, so I’ll bet you’ve got some really interesting points you could share. I’d love to see a tidbit on how the founding fathers did this intentionally.

          Any chance you could share a couple to help give some background to your point.