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The federal grand jury is investigating failed efforts by Trump and
his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, one of two
probes into the former president being handled by Special Counsel
Jack Smith.
Republican Trump, who is running for president in 2024 and calls the
investigations politically motivated, has sought to claim executive
privilege to prevent former aides from testifying. He also faces
inquiries in Georgia and New York.
Citing multiple sources, ABC reported that U.S. Judge Beryl Howell
denied Trump's claim of executive privilege for Meadows and other
former aides in a sealed order last week.
A Trump spokesperson told ABC the Justice Department had stepped
"far outside the standard norms in attempting to destroy the
long-accepted, long-held, constitutionally based standards of
attorney-client privilege and executive privilege."
ABC, citing sources briefed on the matter, reported Trump would
likely appeal the judge's ruling. The Justice Department did not
immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did lawyers for
Trump or Meadows.
The former aides ordered to testify include former Director of
National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former deputy chief of staff
Dan Scavino, former top Department of Homeland Security official Ken
Cuccinelli, and former advisers Stephen Miller, Nick Luna and John
McEntee, ABC reported.
A lawyer for Miller declined to comment. Reuters was not immediately
able to reach the other former aides or their lawyers.
Special Counsel Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick
Garland in November, is also investigating Trump for the unlawful
retention of national defense information at his Florida estate.
(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Jonathan
Oatis)
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