Nor do I think Washington intended presidents to be able to hide crimes. We are looking at a situation where high ranking officials committed crimes (Clinton/Gore fund-raising), and where low level officials framed innocent people and jailed them for decades. I doubt that Washington would condone covering that up.
"where high ranking officials committed crimes (Clinton/Gore fund-raising), and where low level officials framed innocent people and jailed them for decades. " Here, we would agree that there is a compelling public interest.
However, I am under the impression that the information is requested in order to determine if this assertion is true.
If the President doesn't see support for that assertion in the documents (note: this is just the opposite consideration than that made by others here) he must refuse them.
Congress can and should go to court if it is confident in these charges.