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Reading Room Document

Presidential Immunity from Coercive Congressional Demands for Information

This opinion concluded that both as a result of historical custom and constitutional structure, Congress lacked the power to subject the president to compulsory process. The opinion also rejected the idea that the president should be especially forthcoming with information relating to criminal offenses by government officials, and instead stated that “the need to guarantee the fair trial and other constitutional rights of alleged malefactors” had been cited as reasons for denying Congressional demands for information regarding criminal conduct.

July 24, 1973

The OLC's Opinions

Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit

Issues

Free Speech & Social Media

Free Speech & Social Media

Featured

A Free Speech View on the “Free Speech” Executive Order

    

Privacy & Surveillance

Privacy & Surveillance

Featured

Knight Institute and SMU Law Clinic Seek Immediate Release of Records Related to Texas School’s Use of Surveillance Technology

Say surveillance systems in schools undermine students’ privacy and expressive rights, government should release related public records

Transparency & Democracy

Transparency & Democracy

Featured

Knight Institute Seeks Immediate Release of Special Counsel’s Report on Trump’s Mishandling of Classified Documents

Says the public has a First Amendment “right of access” to the document

 

Events

Surveillance Ascendant, Democracy in Free Fall

Surveillance Ascendant, Democracy in Free Fall

A convening addressing the threats to speech and privacy enabled by commercial surveillance in our quickly shifting democratic landscape

 

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