A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from disregarding the Presidential Records Act, ruling White House aides must continue complying with the law despite a recent Justice Department opinion claiming the statute is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge John Bates granted a preliminary injunction rejecting the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel’s argument that the 1978 law improperly limits presidential authority.
Bates wrote that the DOJ relied on a “stark misreading” of Supreme Court precedent, adding that constitutional text, property law principles, decades of historical practice, and prior court rulings support Congress’ authority to regulate presidential records under the Constitution’s Property Clause.
The order takes effect May 26, giving the Trump administration time to appeal.
