Trump Tax Return Case Confronts Supreme Court With a Momentous Choice

[Elderberry]

MSN News by  Adam Liptak 11/5/2019

In a matter of days, President Trump will ask the Supreme Court to rule on his bold claim that he is absolutely immune from criminal investigation while he remains in office. If the court agrees to hear the case, its decision is likely to produce a major statement on the limits of presidential power — and to test the independence of the court itself.

Mr. Trump has been the subject of countless investigations and lawsuits since he took office, including a 22-month inquiry by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel appointed to look into his campaign’s ties to Russia. But the new case, concerning an investigation by Manhattan prosecutors into hush-money payments to two women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump, will be the Supreme Court’s first chance to consider the president’s arguments that he is beyond the reach of the justice system.

The case concerns a subpoena to Mr. Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, from the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat. On Monday, the federal appeals court in Manhattan rejected Mr. Trump’s request to block the subpoena, which seeks eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns.

More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-tax-return-case-confronts-supreme-court-with-a-momentous-choice/ar-AAJUzz2

[Hoodat]

If this is the legal argument that Trump is offering, then he is going to lose.  He would stand a much better chance challenging on general jurisprudence - primarily that only the judiciary can issue such an order via warrant, and that it can only be done so with probable cause relevant to an ongoing criminal proceeding.

[montanajoe]

He will lose probably 9-0...

As I've often said today's gyrations of an ensnared POS remind me so much of Nixon 1972-74.

When the SC ruled Nixon had to turn over the tapes the end was predictable. I'd suspect Trump will step down rather than show those returns to the public...

[Hoodat]

When the SC ruled Nixon had to turn over the tapes the end was predictable.

The same with Clinton when SCOTUS ruled 9-0 that Bruce Lindsey had to testify in the Jones suit.  He settled shortly after.

Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong (i.e. illegal) with Trump's tax returns.  I think they will only reveal that his net worth is not nearly as high as he pretends it to be.  But for Trump to play it right, he would have to ensure by court order that the contents remain sealed, and then hold the investigators in this case criminally liable when the contents are leaked to the press.

[truth_seeker]

Where Is the requirement for Presidents to make their personal finances/tax returns public?

Is it in the Constitution?

Has Congress passed a law, signed by any President before him?

[Elderberry]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-supreme-court-tax-return-case-after-second-circuit

In a statement, Mazars USA said they will comply with the court's decision.

"Mazars USA will respect the legal process and fully comply with its legal obligations," they said. "We believe strongly in the ethical and professional rules and regulations that govern our industry, our work and our client interactions. As a matter of firm policy and professional rules we do not comment on the work we conduct for our clients."

With Sekulow vowing to bring the case to the Supreme Court, Trump’s next move could be a request for a temporary injunction blocking the subpoena at least while the high court determines whether to take up the case.

Based on geography, an emergency filing from Trump would go to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who could either act on the matter alone or refer to the full Supreme Court for consideration.