Article snippet: Former FBI Director James Comey is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill next Thursday, June 8, before the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election and any potential coordination between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government. The senators will likely hone in on discussions between Comey and President Donald Trump about the Russia investigation, and whether the president improperly sought Comey’s loyalty. But Trump could try to block Comey from testifying about their conversations by asserting executive privilege, which is “the right of a president to withhold information from those with compulsory power -- including special counsels and congressional committees -- but only when it’s in the public interest to do so,” explained Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and author of "Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy and Accountability." Rozell said that Trump can claim the privilege, but it would likely be a losing argument. “The president would have to make the case that if Comey divulges information, it would cause undo public harm by compromising national security or an ongoing investigation,” said Rozell. Mitch Sollenberger, a political science professor at University of Michigan-Dearborn, agreed, pointing out that courts would balance the public’s interests with the president’s need for secrecy. ... Link to the full article to read more