Page 4 - aruba-today-20220217

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 17 February 2022
Biden orders release of Trump White House logs to Congress

By COLLEEN LONG gators are also interested
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- in the organization and fi-
dent Joe Biden is ordering nancing of a Washington
the release of Trump White rally the morning of the riot,
House visitor logs to the when Trump told supporters
House committee inves- to "fight like hell." Among
tigating the riot of Jan. 6, the unanswered questions
2021, once more rejecting is how close organizers of
former President Donald the rally coordinated with
Trump's claims of executive White House officials.
privilege. Investigators also are seek-
The committee has sought ing communications be-
a trove of data from the tween the National Ar-
National Archives, includ- chives and Trump's aides
ing presidential records about 15 boxes of records
that Trump had fought to that the agency recovered
keep private. The records from Trump at his Florida re-
being released to Congress sort and are trying to learn
are visitor logs showing ap- what they contained.
pointment information for Meanwhile, White House
individuals who were al- call logs obtained so far by
lowed to enter the White the House committee do
House on the day of the in- President Donald Trump holds up papers as he speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady not list calls made by Trump
surrection. Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 20, 2020, in Washington. as he watched the vio-
In a letter sent Monday Associated Press lence unfold on television
to the National Archives, on Jan. 6, nor do they list
White House counsel Dana the Obama administration, an outgoing president is he absolutely must. Biden calls made directly to the
Remus said Biden had con- and that the majority of the responsible for turning over has waived that privilege president.
sidered Trump's claim that entries over which Trump documents to the agency for much other information That lack of information
because he was president asserted the claim would when leaving office. Trump requested by the commit- about Trump's personal
at the time of the attack on be publicly released under tried but failed to withhold tee, which is going through calls is a particular chal-
the U.S. Capitol, the records the current policy. White House documents the material and obtaining lenge as the investigators
should remain private, but A Trump spokesman did from the House commit- documents and testimony work to discern what the
decided that it was "not in not immediately respond tee in a dispute that was from witnesses, including then-president was doing
the best interest of the Unit- to a request for comment decided by the Supreme some uncooperative ones. in the White House as sup-
ed States" to do so. on the decision. Court. The committee is focused porters violently beat po-
She also noted that as a The Presidential Records Biden has already made on Trump's actions from lice, broke into the Capitol
matter of policy, the Biden Act mandates that records clear that he is not invok- Jan. 6, when he waited and interrupted the con-
administration "voluntarily made by a sitting president ing executive privilege hours to tell his supporters gressional certification of
discloses such visitor logs and his staff be preserved in concerning the congres- to stop the violence and Democrat Joe Biden's elec-
on a monthly basis," as did the National Archives, and sional investigation unless leave the Capitol. Investi- tion victory. q

Marijuana bill spurs water rights debate in arid New Mexico

ing on lawmakers to restore the recreational marijuana "New Mexico is now in an
what they say is critical lan- industry. era of long-term aridifica-
guage aimed at protect- However, critics worry that tion, where we need more
ing limited water resources. without the requirement, careful stewardship of our
A House committee is the illegal use of water limited water resources
scheduled to consider the could go unchecked as and cultural integrity," she
bill Wednesday. The push the industry takes off in said in a letter sent Tuesday
comes in the waning hours New Mexico. They point to members of the House.
of the legislative session to problems elsewhere, in- "By removing the water
that ends at midday Thurs- cluding California where protections, rural entities
day. water theft by illegal mari- — such as mutual domes-
The arid state already juana growers has helped tics and acequias who are
is struggling to meet its to suck dry local aquifers, entrusted with managing
water demands. Experts leaving legitimate users water at the local level —
have warned lawmakers without water. will bear the burden of en-
In this April 6, 2018 photo, are the leaves of a marijuana plant throughout the session that Paula Garcia, head of the forcement. This would put
inside a cultivation greenhouse in Bernalillo, N.M. supplies are expected to New Mexico Acequia As- our precious water resourc-
Associated Press dwindle even more in the sociation, said it's a matter es at risk."
coming years as drought of equity. She said Native The water rights require-
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ensure the producers have and warmer temperatures American and senior wa- ment had been a key
— Hispanic farmers and valid water rights. linked to climate change ter rights holders in New component of last year's
rural residents in New Mex- An organization that rep- persist across the West. Mexico are from historically debate in New Mexico to
ico are concerned legisla- resents traditional irrigation Supporters of the legislation underserved and marginal- legalize the production,
tion that would allow small systems across the state, have described the water ized communities and they sale and use of recreation-
cannabis producers to sig- Latino and Native Ameri- rights requirement as "red stand to be put at greater al cannabis for adults. Re-
nificantly boost their plant can agriculture groups and tape" that is keeping micro risk of having their rights im- tail sales are scheduled to
counts lacks a provision to environmentalists are call- businesses from entering paired. begin April 1.q