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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 8 april 2022
House panel: Justice Dept. 'obstructing' Trump records probe

By FARNOUSH AMIRI and with the National Archives
MICHAEL BALSAMO and his lawyers have said
The Associated Press that "they are continuing to
WASHINGTON (AP) — A search for additional presi-
congressional oversight dential records that belong
committee on Thursday to the National Archives."
said the Justice Depart- The attorney general has
ment is "obstructing" its acknowledged that the
investigation into former department received the
President Donald Trump's referral from the Archives,
handling of White House but it is longstanding Jus-
records by preventing the tice Department policy
release of information from not to comment on inves-
the National Archives. tigations. Democrats and
The House Committee on Republicans on Capitol Hill
Oversight and Reform sent may face a long wait for
a letter to Attorney General answers to their questions
Merrick Garland accusing about specific investiga-
the Justice Department of tions.
impeding the panel's ex- Generally, under Justice
panded investigation into Department guidelines,
the 15 boxes of White House details of investigations are
records that Trump took to supposed to remain out of
his Mar-a-Lago residence the public view until charg-
in Florida after leaving of- Former President Donald Trump smiles as he pauses while speaking to supporters at a Turning Point es are filed or warrants are
fice last year. The Archives Action gathering in Phoenix, July 24, 2021. Associated Press filed. And, if grand juries
in February revealed it had are convened, the Justice
found classified material in even classified information. tigation, lawmakers have the Trump administration Department is precluded
the boxes and referred the In response, the general not received any explana- was not complying with the under federal law from dis-
matter to the Justice De- counsel for the archivist tion as to why the depart- federal records act, even cussing specifics of a grand
partment. wrote on March 28 that ment is preventing the ar- writing in a letter to the jury investigation before
The letter from Rep. Caro- "based on our consultation chivist from providing infor- archivist citing those con- an indictment is handed
lyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the with the Department of Jus- mation about the contents cerns that the departing down.
chairwoman of the Over- tice, we are unable to pro- of the boxes. administration "may not be Garland has also made
sight Committee, outlines vide any comment." The House's oversight pan- adequately preserving re- clear to prosecutors that
communications between "By blocking NARA from el has repeatedly cited cords and may be dispos- the Justice Department
the committee and the producing the documents its authority to investigate ing of them." won't be influenced by out-
National Archives that took requested by the Commit- matters involving the Presi- While federal law bars the side political pressure.
place between February to tee, the Department is ob- dential Records Act, which removal of classified docu- The Oversight Committee
late March. structing the Committee's was enacted in 1978 after ments to unauthorized lo- asked Garland to respond
In those letters, Maloney investigation," Maloney former President Richard cations, it is possible that in by next week with either a
made a series of requests wrote in the letter released Nixon wanted to destroy this case, Trump could try to green light for the National
for information she said the Thursday. documents related to the argue that, as president, he Archives to cooperate with
committee needs to deter- Maloney added that while Watergate scandal. was the ultimate declassifi- their request or provide an
mine if Trump violated fed- the committee is not look- Maloney had warned in cation authority. explanation as to why the
eral records laws over his ing to interfere with the de- December 2020 that she The former president has department is imposing
handling of sensitive and partment's ongoing inves- had "grave concerns" that denied reports of tensions such limitations.q

Captain pleads guilty in San Diego

smuggling boat deaths

charges. Antonio Hurtado, during the journey and at do jumped out and swam
40, of San Diego entered one point lost conscious- to shore, while the other
pleas to felony counts of ness and the vessel drove passengers were flung into
attempted human smug- in circles for more than an the water when the boat
gling resulting in death and hour until the other people was smashed, prosecutors
attempted human smug- on board were able to said. People in the area,
gling for financial gain. He wake him, according to a including a Navy rescue
could face up to life in pris- statement from the U.S. at- swimmer and National Park
on when he is sentenced torney's office. At around 6 Service employees, tried
in July. Prosecutors say a.m. on May 2, the boat's to rescue them. However,
Hurtado, a United States engine died and Hurtado Maria Eugenia Chavez Se-
Wreckage and debris from a capsized boat washes ashore at citizen, was carrying 32 im- couldn't restart it. The 40- govia, 41, Maricela Her-
Cabrillo National Monument near where a boat capsized just off
the coast on Sunday, May 2, 2021, in San Diego. migrants from Mexico into foot (12-meter) trawler-style nandez Sanchez, 35, and
Associated Press the United States last May. boat drifted and was about Victor Perez Degollado,
The boat was traveling in 50 feet (15 meters) from 29, drowned after suffering
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The broke up off the San Diego the dark, in rainy weather shore when it ran aground blunt-force injuries to their
captain of an overload- coast last year, killing three with large ocean swells. In and broke apart in the heads, according the San
ed smuggling boat that immigrants, pleaded guilty a plea agreement, Hurta- pounding surf off Cabrillo Diego County medical ex-
crashed into rocks and Wednesday to federal do said that he used drugs National Monument. Hurta- aminer's office.q