Trump Can’t Block New York District Attorney’s Tax Subpoena

President Donald Trump’s tax returns can be turned over to state criminal investigators by his personal accountant, a federal appeals court in New York ruled Monday.
The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is certain to be further appealed; lawyers for the president promised to do so and the three-judge appeals panel predicted it.
In the written decision, the judges said they only decided whether a state prosecutor can demand Trump’s personal financial records while the president is in office. The appeals court said it did not consider whether the president is immune from indictment and prosecution while in office or whether the president may be ordered to produce documents in a state criminal proceeding.
“We hold that any presidential immunity from state criminal process does not bar the enforcement of such a subpoena,” the 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Robert A. Katzmann wrote.
The decision upholds a lower-court ruling rejecting Trump’s lawsuit seeking to block his accountant from letting a grand jury see his tax records from 2011.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. sought the records in a broader probe that includes payments made to buy the silence of two women, porn star Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, who claim they had affairs with the president before the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied them.
Danny Frost, a spokesman for Vance, declined comment.
The lawyer who argued the case on Trump’s behalf before the appeals court did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
The U.S. Supreme Court will likely have the last word on whether Trump can shield himself from Vance’s efforts to explore the president’s financial records since 2011, including his tax returns.
Trump’s lawyer told the three-judge appeals panel this month that Trump is immune from state criminal law even if he shoots someone because he’s president.
Vance’s attorneys have argued that Trump is not above the law while the president’s lawyers have said the Constitution prohibits states from subjecting the U.S. president to criminal process while he is in office.
Vance’s lawyers have said in court papers that the records being sought relate to business and financial matters rather than official acts by Trump and primarily stem from the time period before he became president.
In the subpoena to Trump’s longtime accountant, Vance’s lawyers call for financial and tax records of entities and individuals, including Trump, who engaged in business transactions in Manhattan.
Trump’s lawyers have said the probe by Vance, a Democrat, is politically motivated.
U.S. Justice Department lawyers in Washington also urged the 2nd Circuit to reverse the findings of the lower court, saying Vance must prove “particularized need” for the records before they are released to a grand jury.
Vance’s investigation comes as the president faces impeachment hearings initiated by House Democrats after the president tried to get Ukraine’s leader to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.

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[candidotomasini]

Y’all gonna learn he is not as successful as alot of you think lol

[ronrendon]

It’s so obvious why he doesn’t want to share his tax returns! Unfortunately his base follow him like lemmings over a cliff. No rhyme or reason: just one leading & all the rest following without question.

[rxdude]

Every major-party nominee in modern American history has done so — until Donald Trump.Hmmm.

[eamonnsiocain]

The Republicans wanted more transparency. They got it!

[marychid]

I do hope Hunter paid tax on his 1.5 Billion Dollar Backhander, if not why not ?

[Frenzy]

Judges should NOT be given JOBS for Life...They should be appointed by their peers with NO Political influence...They must be accountable

[johnaiken]

Let's see those members of Congress returns from the day they took office. How did they all become millionaires?

[summarhein]

My take on this is he done something illegal, IRS would have been all over it!

[MaribelPerez-oqem]

Distraction is all what it is.something big is happening.God win.

[mamawtina]

I thought Trump's taxes were being audited?!?

[davidr]

Even the title of the article is a lie!

[wk]

Fried D. Duck - Really Greasy, and. Not Tasty.

[shintopriestesskikyou]

Cant wait for every shitty thing hes ever done to come out on paper. I want it in both bullet point and flow chart form.

[-od]

GO TRUMP
I voted for him don't blame me!
LOL
Loser to Joe Biden!!!!
HA HA!!!!

[dadsonworldwide]

It's really scary to see the constitutional rights of a pres. Threatened cause anything that happens at that level trickles down through the courts to us.
I know I don't want my personal property taken without my permission.

[RichardMiller-tqut]

Is there nothing more productive to do than hound our president when hes trying to work?