{"id":2643181,"date":"2026-08-11T14:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T18:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-gives-trump-playbook-to-shield-outside-advisers-if-democrats-win-house\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:12:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T18:12:26","slug":"doj-gives-trump-playbook-to-shield-outside-advisers-if-democrats-win-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-gives-trump-playbook-to-shield-outside-advisers-if-democrats-win-house\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ gives Trump playbook to shield outside advisers if Democrats win House"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-gives-trump-playbook-to-shield-outside-advisers-if-democrats-win-house%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643181&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A newly issued Justice Department opinion suggests that President Donald Trump may have a stronger legal basis to shield his communications with private advisors, including attorneys outside the government, from congressional investigations. the Office of Legal Counsel released a 21-page memorandum, quietly posted without public fanfare, which concludes that executive privilege can apply to these communications if they relate to official decision-making, involve Trump or his direct advisers, and remain confidential. This opinion could influence how the DOJ and White House respond to subpoenas from a possibly Democratic-controlled House, especially concerning investigations into Trump\u2019s dealings with outside lawyers and advisers. The guidance builds on historical precedents, notably a 2007 Department opinion and a 1997 court decision, emphasizing that executive privilege is not absolute and must be balanced against transparency. The memo also clarifies that the privilege is not automatically applicable; it requires the white House to assert it on specific records, with courts ultimately deciding on its applicability. This development could impact ongoing legal battles, such as the DOJ\u2019s efforts to subpoena Trump&#8217;s lawyer Boris Epshteyn, and relates to broader issues of executive privilege and transparency in investigations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> opinion could give President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> a stronger legal basis to shield  his communications with private advisers from congressional scrutiny if <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">Democrats<\/a> regain control of the House in November and win back their ability to lead investigations into the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Office of Legal Counsel quietly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/olc\/media\/1457271\/dl\">posted the 21-page memorandum opinion <\/a>on Monday, without a press release or public announcement. It was issued the same day Attorney General Todd Blanche was sworn in at the White House, and just days after Trump announced White House staff secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4680559\/trump-will-scharf-replace-david-warrington-white-house-counsel\/\">Will Scharf <\/a>will soon take over as White House counsel following the departure of David Warrington.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4682472\/judge-media-public-luigi-mangione-trial\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge grants overflow room for media and public to attend Luigi Mangione trial<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4681464\/conservative-group-appeals-court-delaware-campaign-donor-disclosure-law\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Conservative group asks appeals court to strike down Delaware\u2019s campaign donor disclosure law<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4681084\/rob-bonta-op-ed-lawsuit-paramount-warner-bros-merger\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rob Bonta denies antitrust lawsuit against Paramount-Warner Bros. merger is about politics<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">President Donald Trump signs an executive order about vaccines, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-image-caption=&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump signs an executive order about vaccines, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26222702074893.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump signs an executive order about vaccines, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The memo, signed by Assistant Attorney General for the OLC T. Elliot Gaiser, concludes that executive privilege can apply to presidential communications with private advisers, including attorneys outside the government, if the exchanges concern official presidential decision-making, involve or reflect communications with Trump or his direct advisers, and otherwise remain confidential.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The opinion could give the DOJ and White House a framework for responding to subpoenas from a Democrat-led <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\">House of Representatives<\/a> if Democrats were to regain control of the chamber following the November elections, when lawmakers would likely begin to investigate Trump\u2019s dealings with outside lawyers, business executives, and political advisers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OLC relied in part on a 2007 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/file\/494611\/dl?inline\">department opinion<\/a> by then-Solicitor General and Acting Attorney General Paul Clement, involving the dismissal of U.S. attorneys and the D.C. Circuit\u2019s 1997 decision in <em>In re Sealed Case<\/em>. That decision held that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.281674\/gov.uscourts.dcd.281674.60.1.pdf\">\u201cpresidential communications privilege\u201d<\/a> can cover information direct presidential advisers solicit or receive from outside sources while preparing advice for the president. But it also warned against extending the privilege so broadly that government material becomes \u201csequestered\u201d from public view.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A source familiar with the matter pointed the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>toward some of the limiting principles outlined in the memo.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile the issue has not been litigated frequently, the Opinion reaffirms the longstanding position of the office going back at least as far as Paul Clement in 2007 and arguably as far back as 1972,\u201d the source said, referring to former President George W. Bush\u2019s solicitor general and the Nixon administration, respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the guidance would not assert an automatic block on subpoenas or bar testimony. Instead, the White House would need to assert executive privilege over particular records or questions. A court could then decide whether the communications satisfy the OLC test and whether the party seeking the information has demonstrated a sufficient need for disclosure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Democrats\u2019 success in the upcoming midterm elections is largely still an open question, the guidance could have more immediate consequences in the Trump administration\u2019s fight with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/american-bar-association\/\">American Bar Association<\/a> over its effort to subpoena Boris Epshteyn, Trump\u2019s personal lawyer and a longtime informal adviser.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Boris Epshteyn, adviser to former President Donald Trump, returns to the courtroom after a break in Trump\u2019s trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, May 20, 2024, in New York. (Michael M. Santiago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24331610485882.webp?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Boris Epshteyn, adviser to former President Donald Trump, returns to the courtroom after a break in Trump\u2019s trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, May 20, 2024, in New York. (Michael M. Santiago\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ABA is presently challenging in federal court what it calls Trump\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/news\/abanews\/aba-news-archives\/2025\/06\/aba-files-suit-to-halt-govt-intimidation\/\">\u201claw firm intimidation policy,\u201d<\/a> including his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp\/\">executive orders issued<\/a> in the first months of his presidency targeting major firms and agreements with others that sought to avoid similar action. The ABA has sought White House and Epshteyn communications related to the orders and the law firm agreements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The administration has argued that Epshteyn-related communications are protected by the \u201cpresidential communications privilege\u201d and has asked a judge to block the discovery request, according to a July 2 filing on the court docket. Separately, the DOJ has also subpoenaed the firms for communications involving Epshteyn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4674952\/peter-navarro-rehearing-jan-6-committee-contempt\/\">TRUMP TRADE ADVISER SEEKS FULL COURT REHEARING IN JAN. 6 COMMITTEE CONTEMPT CASE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those subpoenas do not require the firms to turn material over to the ABA. But they could allow the administration to argue that the firms are a possible alternative source of nonprivileged information and that the court need not decide the executive-privilege question to resolve the ABA\u2019s discovery request. The ABA could counter that records held by the firms are not an adequate substitute for testimony or White House communications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epshteyn is not a government official, but he has served as a liaison with private law firms that reached agreements with the White House. Nine firms collectively pledged roughly $940 million in free legal services for mutually agreed-upon causes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Justice Dept. opinion may shield Trump\u2019s private adviser communications from Congress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2643182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26222723749046.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7076,33723,46275,32504,3634],"class_list":["post-2643181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj","tag-house-democrats","tag-legal-shield","tag-political-strategy","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26222723749046.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643181"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643184,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643181\/revisions\/2643184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}