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What does the DC Circuit ruling mean for House subpoena power?

White House counsel Don Mcgahn listens to U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

On Monday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the House Judiciary Committee cannot compel former White House counsel Donald McGahn to comply with a congressional subpoena. Scott Anderson weighs in on the judicial panel’s reasoning for this decision, how subpoena fights between the White House and Congress have usually been resolved, and whether this decision has broader repercussions for congressional authority.

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Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo, Chris McKenna, Fred Dews, Marie Wilken, and Camilo Ramirez for their support.

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