Federal district judge Beryl Howell, overseeing the case, upheld the nondisclosure order, citing concerns that informing Trump about the subpoena could jeopardize the investigation led by Jack Smith who has since been appointed Special Council, but was not at the time he got the records.
Howell’s decision was later affirmed by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, albeit with criticism from four conservative judges regarding the potential evasion of executive privilege disputes.
The legal battle underscores broader concerns about privacy rights in the digital age and the balance between government oversight and individual freedoms.
With investigations into sensitive matters such as the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol relying on data obtained from social media platforms, the outcome of X Corp.’s Supreme Court petition carries significant implications for future cases.
X Corp claims that the issues at stake in its petition are likely to recur, citing ongoing battles against nondisclosure orders in separate investigations.
