U.S. Supreme Court justices set to tackle Trump financial records dispute

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Reuters

SUPREME COURT DECEMBER 13, 2019 / 7:06 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

U.S. Supreme Court justices set to tackle Trump financial records dispute

Lawrence Hurley, Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's fight to keep his personal financial records private reaches a new stage on Friday when U.S. Supreme Court justices meet to consider up to three hotly-contested cases pitting Trump against congressional Democrats and a New York prosecutor.

The Republican president is trying to block subpoenas for bank records, tax returns or other materials demanded by various Democratic-led House of Representatives committees investigating corruption or foreign meddling in the U.S. elections process.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, is seeking Trump's tax returns in a criminal investigation of the president, the Trump Organization and his family real estate business.

The cases will test how the justices view Trump's arguments that the subpoenas are a threat to the presidency, on the one hand, and the need for lawmakers or prosecutors for information to pursue legislation or criminal investigations on the other.

The court has a 5-4 conservative majority including two Trump appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-trump-records/u-s-supreme-court-justices-set-to-tackle-trump-financial-records-dispute-idUSKBN1YH1B5

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Hat tip, Joe.My.God:

TODAY: Supreme Court Hears Three Trump Appeals
December 13, 2019

https://www.joemygod.com/2019/12/today-supreme-court-hears-three-trump-appeals/

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Friday round-up
By Edith Roberts on Dec 13, 2019 at 6:54 am

Briefly:

At Reuters, Lawrence Hurley reports that the Supreme Court “could decide this week on whether to hear appeals from [President Donald] Trump in three cases he has lost in lower courts” involving his “efforts to shield his tax returns and other financial records from scrutiny.”

https://www.scotusblog.com/2019/12/friday-round-up-500/

[mopinko]

1. the smart thing for them to do is just duck.

they arent gonna be such blatant puppets that they take every bit of trash he drops on the courthouse steps.
this would be a good time to make that point.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Will they buy the "everything that threatens his presidency is off-limits" argument?

Is THAT in the Constitution? It's like applying the Fifth Amendment to financial records, and how can you shelter records you're required to file by law? Moreover most high-level politicians release tax returns.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. If they take up the case rather than let the lower court rulings stand

the fix is in.

[getagrip_already]

10. not necessarily...

They apparently frequently give the potus a lot of defference and hear cases they otherwise wouldn't. It's to let the potus have their say in open court.

They would be retiring their robes if they agreed with that argument.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. Hearing the case means that if they rule against

Trump they will have to spend the rest of their lives worrying about a crazy Trump loyalist punishing them or their families for openly defying Trump. Simply not hearing the case allows them cover. So, they cannot plan on hearing the case unless they plan to side with Trump.

Just my opinion.

[Miguelito Loveless]

14. After Bush v. Gore and Citizens United

I no longer have faith that any conservative on the court will act in accordance with the law, or has any interest in justice or even their own legacy.

[okaawhatever]

13. Then what happens when another lower court judge rules Trump doesn't have to show the records?

SCOTUS will pretty much have to step in at that point.

[CBHagman]

4. Oh, headline writers still don't know how to cover this festival of corruption...

...and cover-ups. "Attempt to block release" is more like it, or "Trump's refusal to disclose his financial records." It's not a "dispute" at all; he's hiding something.

On edit: And his game is to try to control everything to his advantage. People need to start talking about him as the weak and overprivileged being he is, not as though he could always get away with this. This stuff is coming out, one way or another.

[DarthDem]

5. Nice Post

I agree. Nicely said.

[iluvtennis]

8. + 1. nt

[MFGsunny]

9. + 1000

Not only for that priceless phrase "festival of corruption" but, and more importantly, for the message of MF45 as a basic chicken-shyte who goes thru life conniving and manipulating solely for his grifter benefit and totally bereft of a moral compass.

[DallasNE]

6. Consider Also

That one of these cases involves a law enacted during the Tea Pot Dome era that has language that the IRS "shall" provide tax records to Congress for legislative purposes. How does the court get around that language other than declaring the law unconstitutional. Keep in mind that the IRS has in the past given such records to Congress, though not specifically those of the President. Indeed, a stay expires on this today so some action is required. I believe I have the gist on this right even if I don't say it in the most articulate manner.

[CanonRay]

7. I think (hope) that the Court will take a pass

it is far too political, and in the past I would have been fully confident that they wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole. If, on the other hand, they take the case and rule in Trump's favor, somebody turn out the lights when you leave. We're fucked.

[BigDemVoter]

11. I will be especially interested to see what those

shitheads, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, vote if it comes to that. . . I would fully expect those two to do the worst thing possible, as neither has any moral compass at all.