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In reply to the discussion: 'Almost impossible to overstate how appalling' Trump's arguments are in Supreme Court case [View all]scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)9. Sorry, I really dislike Raw Story. Here's the actual WaPo link w/ excerpts:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/12/trumps-lawyers-just-made-appalling-arguments-supreme-court/
<snip>
In the lower court rulings as these cases (and others in which Trump has made similar sweeping claims of immunity) make their way up to the Supreme Court, Trump hasnt just lost. Again and again, judges expressed shock and even outrage at the audacity of his claims before rejecting them out of hand.
Consider the first two cases the Supreme Court heard together, the ones involving congressional subpoenas for his tax returns. The position Trumps lawyers have taken is essentially that Congress didnt have a good enough reason to exercise its subpoena power, and therefore the subpoenas are invalid even though theyre directed at outside companies.
Again and again before the high court, Trumps lawyers used the word harassment to describe Congresss requests, claiming they had no legitimate legislative purpose. Thats despite the fact that the House explicitly cited their legislative purpose: They need to know what kinds of conflicts of interest Trump has to see if the countrys ethics laws need to be strengthened, not to mention figuring out whether legislation ought to be passed requiring presidents to release their tax returns.
But no, Trumps lawyers said. Thats not good enough, because what theyre really doing is trying to harass him. Its just political, and because hes president, he can shield his personal records from their view.
As Justice Elena Kagan noted, Trump would essentially make it impossible for Congress to perform oversight and carry out its functions where the presidency is concerned.
<snip>
In the lower court rulings as these cases (and others in which Trump has made similar sweeping claims of immunity) make their way up to the Supreme Court, Trump hasnt just lost. Again and again, judges expressed shock and even outrage at the audacity of his claims before rejecting them out of hand.
Consider the first two cases the Supreme Court heard together, the ones involving congressional subpoenas for his tax returns. The position Trumps lawyers have taken is essentially that Congress didnt have a good enough reason to exercise its subpoena power, and therefore the subpoenas are invalid even though theyre directed at outside companies.
Again and again before the high court, Trumps lawyers used the word harassment to describe Congresss requests, claiming they had no legitimate legislative purpose. Thats despite the fact that the House explicitly cited their legislative purpose: They need to know what kinds of conflicts of interest Trump has to see if the countrys ethics laws need to be strengthened, not to mention figuring out whether legislation ought to be passed requiring presidents to release their tax returns.
But no, Trumps lawyers said. Thats not good enough, because what theyre really doing is trying to harass him. Its just political, and because hes president, he can shield his personal records from their view.
As Justice Elena Kagan noted, Trump would essentially make it impossible for Congress to perform oversight and carry out its functions where the presidency is concerned.
(more at link)
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'Almost impossible to overstate how appalling' Trump's arguments are in Supreme Court case [View all]
Soph0571
May 2020
OP
They'll rip it until a Democrat is in the WH, then we'll have an "independent judiciary" again.
sop
May 2020
#7
The minute we have a democratic president, it'll be prosecute the Prez times a million
ffr
May 2020
#10
They'll be overturning the precedent set for Nixon and Clinton if they refuse to let the House subpo
Lonestarblue
May 2020
#29
That was my response to Canada during the Bush years: COLD! But I almost brought myself to go.
catrose
May 2020
#35
"...all apply to become part of Britain again" At least we'd all have national healthcare.
Yavin4
May 2020
#4
Sorry, I really dislike Raw Story. Here's the actual WaPo link w/ excerpts:
scarletwoman
May 2020
#9
Thank you. OPs - please don't post aggregator's links - use the original where possible.
erronis
May 2020
#21
If they decide that way, President Bien MUST start impeachment and removal proceedings against....
machoneman
May 2020
#14
Jill Wine-Banks just learned that the Nixon and Clinton decisions occurred too recently to be used
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
May 2020
#27