Appeals Court Says Trump's Financial Records Must be Given to House

President Trump, under Siege from House Democrats Weighing Impeachment, suffered a blow as a Federal Appeals Court upheld a Subpoena ordering his Accountants to provide Congress with his Financial Records.

The Ruling, by a Three-Judge Panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, means Trump will Lose Control of his Tax Returns and Other Business Papers at Mazars USA LLP unless the Full Court Reconsiders the Decision or the U.S. Supreme Court Blocks it.

In a 2-1 Decision, the Judges Rejected Arguments made by Lawyers for the President that the House Oversight and Reform Committee had No Legitimate Legislative Reason to seek the Information. ”Disputes between Congress and the president are a recurring plot in our national story,” U.S. Circuit Judge David Tatel wrote in the Majority’s 66-page Opinion. “And that is precisely what the Framers intended.” He quoted the late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who said that the Purpose of the Separation of Powers was “to save the people from autocracy.”

The Ruling comes just days after Mazars was Ordered by a Federal District Court to Turn Over his Tax Filings and other Financial Records to New York State Prosecutors. But Mazard notified the Judge that they did Not have the Documents Requested.

Trump, the Trump Organization, and the President’s Three Oldest Children have steadfastly Refused to Surrender their Records to Congress. Armed with the Documents, Democratic Lawmakers will be able to more Fully Explore any Conflicts of Interest in the Executive Branch and whether the President has Violated the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses.

The Case is Trump v. Mazars USA LLP, 19-5142, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit (Washington).

This Decision does indicates that Inquiry into Documents in the Impeachment Process is Legal.

Contrary to the President's arguments, the Committee possesses authority under both the House Rules and the Constitution to issue the subpoena, Judge David Tatel wrote in an Opinion joined by Judge Patricia Millett."










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