The House’s bid to subpoena President Donald Trump’s financial records appeared imperiled Tuesday as justices of all ideological stripes raised concerns that blessing the lawmakers’ efforts could unleash an avalanche of such requests that might paralyze Trump and future presidents.
But Trump’s legal team argued that the demands were tantamount to political harassment, and that the House’s claims of a “legislative purpose” were a pretense to simply investigate the president. And at least one conservative justice seemed to agree.Indeed, Thomas went even further, raising doubts about Congress’ power to subpoena anyone — an authority that does not appear in the Constitution but that courts have found implicit because it’s necessary to make informed decisions about legislation.
House Democrats have issued multiple subpoenas for Trump’s financial records that have wound through the courts for a year. Though the House has won at every level so far, Trump’s legal team is hopeful that the high court is a more favorable venue to beat back the effort. In the case about the House’s subpoena power, Trump attorney Patrick Strawbridge mentioned at least three times that some of the House subpoenas were so broad they included tax returns and other records for Trump’s family — an appeal to justices who might have little sympathy for Trump himself.
House Counsel Douglas Letter repeatedly stressed that the House subpoenas were served on banks and an accounting firm, not directly on the president and there was no demand for Trump’s personal testimony. While Trump’s lawyers argued that enforcing the subpoenas would interfere with the separation of powers, Letter argued that aggressively questioning the House’s sincerity about its legislative goals would amount to a similar intrusion.
Clinton’s statements in his subsequent deposition in that suit prolonged the Whitewater Independent Counsel probe and led to his impeachment by the House., which green-lighted civil litigation many would consider less weighty than a congressional subpoena or a criminal investigation. The justices also wrestled Tuesday with another case that involves similar arguments: a drive by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. to use state-level grand jury subpoenas to get eight years of Trump’s tax returns and other financial records.
This what all Presidents have done and Trump is no different.
They must weigh which is more harmful: America’s right to know who their leaders pledge loyalty to; or am individuals right to sell out their country to foreign entities.
We already know, he's heavily in debt to the Russians...
For all the politicians and there cronies.
Why are they wasting our time in this crisis
Why y'all surprised, it's sticking to the script damn it.
Yes... because all other Presidents and candidates release their tax returns voluntarily. So umm 🤷♂️ super inconvenient to future Presidents I guess.
There full of shit and the know he’s hiding something
I heard two lawyers trying to argue that Trump was king and chief justice Roberts shutting them down! We Have NO KINGS in America 🇺🇸
Y'all ain't never going to see those tax records.
BS! Release the tax returns! Trump is not above the law! Does Trump control the court? I hope not or we will be in a dictatorship! Resist!
Trumps already set so many stupid precedence...what’s one more...C’MON!!
BS headline
To recap: -The House cannot investigate the President. It must go to courts. -Courts can’t meddle in inter-branch fights. - a sitting President can’t be indicted (OLC) - but nobody is above the law. Make it make sense!!
Why? Most presidential candidates are happy for everyone to see their tax returns.
Overthinking whole situation... just do what every president has ever done
Simply put, an American president can be above the law if he commits crimes but the House cannot investigate him, and if it does and impeach him, the senate can refuse to convict, and if they go to courts, the Supreme Court can declare him untouchable.” Damn you Founding Fathers
Maybe if Trump hadn't lied to voters during his campaign saying he'd provide his taxes and simply provide them like ALL previous presidents, this wouldn't be an issue. He's not a king. And Congress's oversight committee should be allowed to do their jobs.
Whats harmful IS TRUMPS CORRUPTION
I’m okay with this precedent, these things have a way of having unintended consequences.
Is it opposite day at Politico?
Jay Sekulow: president is NOT above the law. Scotus SCOTUSblog USSupremeCourt JusticeRoberts JusticeKavanagh JD_Sotomayor JusticeBreyer Justice_Kagan
His finances must pass the smell test. He’s being paid by the taxpayers and needs to act on our behalf, not his own. The demand is valid.
NONE OF PIGLOSI'S BUSINESS... THEN ALL POLITICIANS SHOULD RELEASE THEIR TAXES.. NOT REQUIRED. SOCIALISM Take a good look at America.. America. Giving up our freedoms. Don't let the government dictate and suppress our freedoms. VoteRedToSaveAmerica DemocratsForTrump2020
He's the first president to refuse to disclose his taxes 'temporarily,' using the untrue excuse of an 'audit.' He has incessantly lied to our faces for 3.5 years, and presided over an admin helped to power by Putin and rocked by scandal. Talk about your harmful precedents.