Trump responded with a threat to fight the committee by invoking executive privilege, but as one who fought him over that issue in his first impeachment in 2020, I'm optimistic that the committee will get the information it needs.

The committee's far-reaching demands for information to the executive branch and to non-governmental entities alike represent a classic investigative technique. Whether it's a criminal, civil, or congressional matter, you must get all the records, study the patterns, and see what emerges.

The very first thing we did when we kicked off the investigation in the initial impeachment of Trump was issue more than 80 demands for information to entities and individuals -- and the facts of Trump's assault on the 2020 election and its certification are even more far-flung. For instance, Trump's alleged obstruction of the Mueller investigation principally centered on a handful of aides at the White House and Department of Justice, whereas his alleged election wrongdoing encompassed multiple federal agencies and even reached into the states.

© Paul Morigi Norman Eisen

The executive privilege stonewalling that Trump could order while in office won't work anymore. The congressional requests have been made to agencies led by officials appointed by President Joe Biden. They and the career professionals who will process the asks can be expected to comply.

The Biden administration has already staked out the general position that executive privilege does not apply.