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Steven Mnuchin Refuses to Release Trump’s Tax Returns to Congress

Should this be fast tracked to the Supreme Court?

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JANFU

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Steven Mnuchin Refuses to Release Trump’s Tax Returns to Congress - The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department said on Monday that it would not release President Trump’s tax returns to Congress, defying a request from House Democrats and setting up a legal battle likely to be resolved by the Supreme Court.
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He is following direction from Trump
This man is a sycophant, wealthy as hell though

He stayed quiet after Trump fiasco comments on Charlottesville.

Should this be fast tracked to the Supreme Court?
 
Yes, the sooner we establish precedence that Congress can't look into tax records simply for political gain, the better.
 
I voted no for practical reasons. What is Congress going to do with it? Refer what they find to Barr? :lol: Let NY handle it.
 
Napoleon said:
I voted no for practical reasons. What is Congress going to do with it? Refer what they find to Barr? :lol: Let NY handle it.
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Good point. Someone's going to get their hands on the goods either way. And either way stuff will inevitably be leaked...might as well sit back and watch.
 
Napoleon said:
I voted no for practical reasons. What is Congress going to do with it? Refer what they find to Barr? :lol: Let NY handle it.
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More importantly, it will be made public in the court of public opinion, leading up to the election.

That's why it needs to be done ...
 
No doubt the Russians already have Trumps tax data.

That's why he pushes his orange nose up Putin's ass every few weeks.
 
Chomsky said:
More importantly, it will be made public in the court of public opinion, leading up to the election.

That's why it needs to be done ...
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That's why Trump is in trouble. Just like Clinton was in 2016. Not all Americans are stupid. Americans don't like the specter of the President being compromised or cheating on taxes, as Cohen claimed Trump did. The optics of refusing to comply with the 1924 law is just playing right into the Democrats' hands. And they will run this on a loop 24/7 leading up to the election.

There sure is something Trump doesn't want us to see in those taxes. I expect his private plane to start flying Mnuchin and his trophy bride to Fort Knox again somewhere soon as a reward for being a good boy.
 
tres borrachos said:
That's why Trump is in trouble. Just like Clinton was in 2016. Not all Americans are stupid. Americans don't like the specter of the President being compromised or cheating on taxes, as Cohen claimed Trump did. The optics of refusing to comply with the 1924 law is just playing right into the Democrats' hands. And they will run this on a loop 24/7 leading up to the election.

There sure is something Trump doesn't want us to see in those taxes. I expect his private plane to start flying Mnuchin and his trophy bride to Fort Knox again somewhere soon as a reward for being a good boy.
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You know what my biggest fear with Trump always was?

That with his wealth, he could be cutting "legal" bribery deals with members of his administration and government. For example, he can control someone with the promise of a plum contract or employment from the Trump Org, to be finalized when he or the bribed individual is out of office.

The above has always been my greatest fear ...
 
Chomsky said:
More importantly, it will be made public in the court of public opinion, leading up to the election.

That's why it needs to be done ...
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Well, that’s one thing Congress probably cannot do even if it manages to get them. Returns subpoenaed by Congress can only be used for a legislative purpose. Slamming somebody’s tax returns into the public domain does not meet that definition.
 
Taylor said:
Yes, the sooner we establish precedence that Congress can't look into tax records simply for political gain, the better.
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A) The law is clear. Congress has a legal right to review anyone's taxes.
B) There is both a legislative reason and an oversight reason to see Trump's taxes. While "simply for political gain" is today's right-wing talking point, it is a lie. Trump has credibly been accused of engaging in criminal activity for decades. It’s undisputed that he is still profiting from his businesses, in possible violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. There is substantial information in the public record suggesting that he is for sale (or subject to blackmail) and that many of his public policy decisions have been made for corrupt reasons. The tax returns may help provide information that sheds light on his motives. It’s an indispensable part of congressional oversight.
C) Congress need not justify their reason to the Treasury or IRS. The statute itself does not say that a justification for the request is necessary.
 
Napoleon said:
Well, that’s one thing Congress probably cannot do even if it manages to get them. Returns subpoenaed by Congress can only be used for a legislative purpose. Slamming somebody’s tax returns into the public domain does not meet that definition.
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Nothing here entail public disclosure of the returns, which takes the wind out of the sales of your argument.

Also, "legislative" purpose isn't in the statute. Congress just needs a reasonable reason, which has been demonstrated.
 
tres borrachos said:
That's why Trump is in trouble. Just like Clinton was in 2016. Not all Americans are stupid. Americans don't like the specter of the President being compromised or cheating on taxes, as Cohen claimed Trump did. The optics of refusing to comply with the 1924 law is just playing right into the Democrats' hands. And they will run this on a loop 24/7 leading up to the election.

There sure is something Trump doesn't want us to see in those taxes. I expect his private plane to start flying Mnuchin and his trophy bride to Fort Knox again somewhere soon as a reward for being a good boy.
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The above is exactly why the Democratic theme should be, "what does Trump have to hide?"
 
Chomsky said:
You know what my biggest fear with Trump always was?

That with his wealth, he could be cutting "legal" bribery deals with members of his administration and government. For example, he can control someone with the promise of a plum contract or employment from the Trump Org, to be finalized when he or the bribed individual is out of office.

The above has always been my greatest fear ...
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You should keep this link. Check it from time to time to see if they get this back in stock.

https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Deflecto-Unisex-Foil-Size/dp/B01I497JAM
 
MTAtech said:
Nothing here entail public disclosure of the returns, which takes the wind out of the sales of your argument.

Also, "legislative" purpose isn't in the statute. Congress just needs a reasonable reason, which has been demonstrated.
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The Supreme Court narrowed the application of this law to a legitimate legislative purpose decades ago. The Democrats haven’t done a good job of establishing any reason for this request other than a fishing expedition driven by animus. They certainly haven’t established any legislative purpose for it.
 
prometeus said:
Then change the law.
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Too bad for Trump and his devotees that the Republicans were apparently too stupid to remember that the law was on the books, and had in fact been used in the past, all those years when they controlled the House.
 
Chomsky said:
You know what my biggest fear with Trump always was?

That with his wealth, he could be cutting "legal" bribery deals with members of his administration and government. For example, he can control someone with the promise of a plum contract or employment from the Trump Org, to be finalized when he or the bribed individual is out of office.

The above has always been my greatest fear ...
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I think your fear is proving to be more and more real with each passing day. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer (which is better than a Debbie Does Dallaser).
 
Napoleon said:
Well, that’s one thing Congress probably cannot do even if it manages to get them. Returns subpoenaed by Congress can only be used for a legislative purpose. Slamming somebody’s tax returns into the public domain does not meet that definition.
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Actually, I'm not sure how that works. But I suspect there's ways of keeping the public informed when appropriate.
 
Napoleon said:
The Supreme Court narrowed the application of this law to a legitimate legislative purpose decades ago. The Democrats haven’t done a good job of establishing any reason for this request other than a fishing expedition driven by animus. They certainly haven’t established any legislative purpose for it.
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In the 1975 Supreme Court ruling in Eastland v. United States Servicemen’s Fund, National Review writer David French has noted.

In that case, an anti-war group challenged a congressional subpoena. The high court determined the subpoena was “immune to judicial interference.”

“The power to investigate and to do so through compulsory process plainly falls within that definition,” the majority opinion held. “This Court has often noted that the power to investigate is inherent in the power to make laws … .”
 
Mycroft said:
Before your poll can be answered, the Dems have to take someone to court. I don't think they will.
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Question was premised on taking it to court
So feel free to vote
 
Taylor said:
Yes, the sooner we establish precedence that Congress can't look into tax records simply for political gain, the better.
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But that's not the law. The law states that the chair may view any individual's tax return. I support this moving to the Supreme Court because they will have no choice but to affirm the plain meaning of the law. The law is crystal clear:

Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.
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I encourage you to read it over and over again. The chair has the right to view any tax return in closed executive session. There is no wiggle room. Period. Full stop. Further, it's not your (or Mnuchin's for that matter) business to determine the motive of requesting such returns. It is not your business to determine what is legitimate, it is Congress' job. Keep in mind, that these laws were enacted after the Teapot Dome Scandal to prevent the Executive branch from engaging in bribery.
 
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