Trump poised for Supreme Court battle over financial records

[Elderberry]

Reuters by Lawrence Hurley 12/12/2019

The U.S. Supreme Court may have a conservative majority that includes two justices appointed by President Donald Trump, but his efforts to shield his tax returns and other financial records from scrutiny still face an uncertain future.

The court could decide this week on whether to hear appeals from Trump in three cases he has lost in lower courts. While the court has a history of allowing the president to make his case, it has also deferred to Congress’ right to investigate a broad range of issues. Two of the cases regard such congressional scrutiny.

Trump must win twice: First he must persuade the court to hear his appeals and then he must win on the merits. If the court decides not to hear one or all of Trump’s appeals, some documents would then be handed over.

The court, which has a 5-4 conservative majority including Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, could act as soon as Friday when the justices meet to discuss privately what action to take on pending appeals.

More: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-trump-records/trump-poised-for-supreme-court-battle-over-financial-records-idUSKBN1YG199

[Victoria33]

BKMK

[mystery-ak]

Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump appeals in fight over financial records
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/474517-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-trump-appeals-in-fight-over-financial

[PeteS in CA]

From the OP article:

The court could decide this week on whether to hear appeals from Trump in three cases he has lost in lower courts. While the court has a history of allowing the president to make his case, it has also deferred to Congress’ right to investigate a broad range of issues. Two of the cases regard such congressional scrutiny.

Congress cannot demand and obtain any taxpayer's tax returns without reason. Such a request must be based on those records being part of the business of Congress. That was part of the reason for the shampeachment hearings. They, supposedly, were the Congressional business for which the records were needed. The problem with this is that the shampeachment hearings, so far as any are planned, have settled on what matters were being investigated. And those matters - summed up in two farticles of impeachment - have absolutely zero to do with Trump's business doings. So the supposed basis for Congress demanding Trump's tax returns has been shown to be a sham as well, and the demand for Trump's tax returns is just a fishing expedition.

[Elderberry]

The third case is part of a criminal investigation into Trump and the Trump Organization, the president’s family real estate business, in which Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, is seeking Trump’s tax returns.

Trump’s lawyers argue the case raises broad questions on whether a president can face criminal prosecution while in office and they argue for broad immunity. Vance counters that the investigation is purely about Trump’s business activities and does not touch on his official duties as president.