United States v. Nixon
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| United States v. Nixon | |
| Court | U.S. Supreme Court |
|---|---|
| Citation | 418 US 683 (1974) |
| Date decided | July 24, 1974 |
Facts
Nixon was involved in Watergate scandal. He refused to give up documents and tape recordings of his office he said that he did not have to give them up because of non-justicability because it is a political question and involves separation of powers.
Issues
Whether the executive branch can refuse to give up tape recordings claiming executive absolute privilege when he is charged with a crime and certain recordings might be evidence.
Holding
This case is not about political question because he was already charged with a crime already and was awaiting a court trial. It is not an internal dispute.
Rule
The immediate and specific need of the criminal process outweighs the general Presidential confidentiality rights.
