Privilege Without Transparency: The Latest Chapter in a Long Standing Pattern The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel has issued an opinion that reaffirms existing precedent on executive privilege, but with a disturbing twist: it allows President Trump to exert executive privilege over communications with outside advisers.
This protection applies if the communications relate to official presidential decision making and are confidential. On its face, this may seem like a reasonable extension of executive privilege.
However, it raises important questions about the balance between secrecy and accountability in government.