Donald Trump takes to the Supreme Court in the lawsuit over the Capitol attack

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Lawsuits at lower courts unsuccessful: Ex-US President Trump is now trying it before the Supreme Court

Photo: Evan Vucci / dpa

Former US President Donald Trump has turned to the Supreme Court in Washington in the legal dispute over the processing of the storm on the Capitol on January 6th. Trump filed an application with the Supreme Court in the US capital on Thursday to prevent documents from being handed over to the relevant investigative committee in Congress. The former president had previously tried unsuccessfully before lower authorities to prevent the documents from being passed on.

A federal court had dismissed a corresponding suit from Trump.

In it he had insisted on the so-called executive privilege.

This is a US president's prerogative to withhold certain information from Congress or the courts.

However, the federal court stated that executive privilege exists to protect the government and not a single person who is also no longer president.

The White House has already announced that Trump's successor, Joe Biden, will not stop the transfer of documents from the National Archives.

No success before the court of appeal

Trump had appealed against the decision of the federal court, but was unsuccessful in an appeals court.

The legal dispute ended up with the Supreme Court.

Supporters of the former president stormed the seat of the US Congress in the capital Washington on January 6th last year.

Five people were killed, including a police officer.

Trump had to face impeachment proceedings for the attack because he had previously incited his supporters in a speech.

At the end of the trial, he was acquitted.

The committee of inquiry in the House of Representatives is supposed to clarify the background to the attack on the Capitol.

col / dpa