7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Home News Sport Reel Worklife Travel Future M

Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see
records
20 minutes ago

GETTY IMAGES

The US Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump's financial records can be
examined by prosecutors in New York.

In a related case, the court ruled that this information did not have to be shared with
Congress.

Mr Trump is the first president since Richard Nixon in the 1970s not to have made his tax
returns public.

His lawyers had argued that he enjoys total immunity while in office and that Congress had no
valid justification to seek the records.

Two Democrat-controlled House of Representatives committees and New York District

Attorney Cyrus Vance - also a Democrat - had demanded several years' worth of Mr Trump's
taxes in order to determine whether current conflict-of-interest laws on a US president were
tough enough.

Mr Trump, a Republican, denies wrongdoing and has called the investigation into his tax
affairs a "witch hunt".

"The Supreme Court sends case back to Lower Court, arguments to continue. This is all a
political prosecution," he wrote in a series of tweets following the court rulings.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 1/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

How did Donald Trump make his fortune?

Five claims in Trump niece's tell-all book

The two cases regarding Congressional committees were closely watched, as they could
have had implications on how far US lawmakers can scrutinise the activities of a sitting
president.

In the case regarding the request from the New York prosecutors, the Supreme Court ruled by
a majority of seven to two that the president did not have absolute immunity from criminal
investigation.

"Two hundred years ago, a great jurist of our Court established that no citizen, not even the
President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a
criminal proceeding," the court said.

"We reaffirm that principle today."

Ruling a political win for President Trump

Those wanting to see President Donald Trump's tax returns before the November presidential
election shouldn't hold their breath.

In a series of high-stakes rulings on Thursday, the US Supreme Court swatted down the
president's defense that, by dint of his high office, he is somehow above the law when it
comes to state-level criminal subpoenas. That's good news for the president's critics,
advocates of limited executive power, and New York prosecutors seeking to investigate
Trump's personal finances.

The opinion is not-so-good news for anyone wanting a quick resolution to this case, however.
Chief Justice John Roberts sent the lawsuit back down to the lower courts and offered a few
new legal avenues for Mr Trump's lawyers to pursue that could continue to put off a day when
the president's accounting firm ultimately hands over the documents. And if that day comes,
there's still no guarantee that the request, by a secret grand jury, will ever lead to a public
disclosure.

In the other case, involving a request by congressional Democrats for Trump's financial
records, the court was even more circumspect. It simply punted the case down to the lower
court with instructions to further balance presidential privileges with legislative power. The
gears of justice will grind even more slowly there.

While legally these decisions may have been, at best, a draw for the president, by pushing the
final day of reckoning further down the road, it's a political win.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 2/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

What are the cases about?

Two of the cases centred on the ability of the House Intelligence, Oversight and Financial
Services Committees to compel Deutsche Bank and Mazars USA, Mr Trump's long-time
accounting firm, to turn over his tax and financial documents.

The case of Trump v Vance was based on on Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's
criminal subpoena - an order to hand over evidence.

Mr Vance argued Mr Trump's documents were needed to determine if financial records had
been doctored to cover up hush-money payments to two women in 2016 who say they had
affairs with Mr Trump.

The judges heard the cases remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Supreme
Court has a 5-4 conservative majority and includes two Trump appointees - Neil Gorsuch and
Brett Kavanaugh.

Following the ruling Mr Vance said the investigation into Mr Trump's financial affairs would
resume.

"This is a tremendous victory for our nation's system of justice and its founding principle that
no one - not even a president - is above the law", he added.

AFP

What is at stake?
Damaging revelations about President Trump's financial affairs could hurt his campaign for re-
election. He has already slumped in opinion polls, as critics accuse him of mishandling the
coronavirus crisis.

The New York investigation covers alleged hush money payments made by Mr Trump's
former lawyer Michael Cohen to two women - adult film star Stormy Daniels and former
Playboy model Karen McDougal - who both say they had affairs with Mr Trump.

Such payments could violate campaign financing laws. The president denies the affairs took
place.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 3/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Related Topics

US Supreme Court Donald Trump Stormy Daniels

Share this story About sharing

More on this story

How did Donald Trump make his fortune?

13 April 2016

Five shocking passages in Mary Trump's tell-all book

7 July 2020

US & Canada

Foreign students in US 'scared for the future'

9 July 2020 US & Canada

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 4/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

'Stop yelling', officer told gasping George Floyd

9 July 2020 US & Canada

Glee star Rivera missing after boat trip with son

9 July 2020 US & Canada

More Videos from the BBC

Recommended by Outbrain

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 5/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Saying goodbye to our Tanker driven at US Iranian Parkour athlete

British Dream? protesters in Minneapolis arrested over a rooftop
kiss

Ghislaine Maxwell 'won't 'Too tough to die' US 'We contacted every one
speak about Prince Navy WW2 ship of our customers'
Andrew' discovered

Elsewhere on BBC
Recommended by Outbrain

BBC BBC
Beyond Tokyo: Japan's beautiful The country building a ‘new London’
meetings and events destinations every year

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 6/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

BBC News BBC

Seafood fraudsters sentenced to 1,446 Can you learn to navigate uncertainty?
years in jail

BBC News BBC

Growing up black in one of England's How Hong Kong cleaned up its toxic
whitest counties harbour

From Around the Web

Promoted content by Outbrain

Holen Sie sich jetzt ein Arbeitslosendarlehen. Online

bewerben
Sponsored Listings

Germany: Why Is Everyone Going Crazy Over This Anti-

Mosquito Device?
AntiMosquito Bracelet

Mein Haar ist jetzt viel voller. Der Tipp kam vom meiner
Gynäkologin.
Thiocyn

Jobless in Germany? This is how to become a UX designer

in just 5 months for free
CareerFoundry

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 7/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Online Schuldenanalyse: Jetzt kostenlos & unverbindlich

prüfen
Schuldenanalyse-Kos…

Sparen Sie 1.829 € – Ihr Kombi Neuwagen ab 97€ im Monat

Sixt Neuwagen

Top Stories
Prosecutors can see Trump taxes, Supreme Court says
However, the court rules that this information does not have to be shared with Congress.
20 minutes ago

Minister to signal further lockdown easing

9 July 2020

Glee star Rivera missing after boat trip with son

8 minutes ago

Features

Foreign students in US 'scared for the future'

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 8/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Covid-19: Things US has got wrong - and got right

Pop music is getting faster (and happier)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 9/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Is India the next global coronavirus hotspot?

How a stolen identity exposed Chinese exam fraud

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 10/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Fighting on Yemen's Covid front line

The jailed media mogul taking on Ethiopia's leader

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 11/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Me Too movement not over, says founder

The Australian community cut in half by lockdown

Elsewhere on the BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 12/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Lyrics quiz
Have you been getting these songs wrong?

Feeling hot
What happens to your body in extreme heat?

Most Read
Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can 1
see records

Liverpool shooting: Woman shot by Merseyside Police in street 2

Coronavirus: John Lewis and Boots to cut 5,300 jobs 3

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 13/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Coronavirus: Data shows cases in England falling 4

Naya Rivera: Glee star missing after boat trip with son 5

Johnny Depp accuses Amber Heard of severing finger tip 6

TV licences: BBC to go ahead with over-75s licence fee 7

changes

Bow crane collapse: Killed woman was 'very caring' 8

Tax boss questions value of Rishi Sunak's job bonus and meal 9
discount plans

Gorillas in Nigeria: World's rarest great ape pictured with babies 10

Why you can trust BBC News

BBC News Services

On your mobile

On smart speakers

Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Explore the BBC

Home News

Sport Reel

Worklife Travel

Future Culture

Music TV

Weather Sounds

Terms of Use About the BBC

Privacy Policy Cookies

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 14/15
7/9/2020 Trump taxes: Supreme Court says New York prosecutors can see records - BBC News

Accessibility Help Parental Guidance

Contact the BBC Get Personalised Newsletters

Advertise with us AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

Copyright © 2020 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our
approach to external linking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53353953 15/15