Supreme Court allows release of Trump's tax returns to House Democrats

Roughly equivalent to another year of Secret Service presence for a former POTUS to play golf...

 

My new funniest line of the day...

I suggest it should be on both... by adding the word "exclusively" between "shouldn't" and "be"

 

And as I have repeatedly cited congressional subpoena can only be issued for legislative purposes not for let's see what we can find purposes.

"Congress’s authority to “secure needed information” is not enumerated in the Constitution. McGrain, 273 U.S. at 161. Regardless, it has long been held that the “power of inquiry— with process to enforce it—is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function.” Id. at 174. This power is broad and indispensable, but it is not without limits. Mazars, 140 S. Ct. at 2031....

A Congressional request for information “is valid only if it is ‘related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of Congress.” Mazars, 140 S. Ct. at 2031

Generally, the request must “concern[] a subject on which ‘legislation could be had.’” Eastland, 421 U.S. at 506 (quoting McGrain, 273 U.S. at 177). Congress does not have the “general power to inquire into private affairs and compel disclosures.” McGrain, 273 U.S. at 173 (internal quotation marks omitted). “[T]here is no congressional power to expose for the sake of exposure.” Watkins, 354 U.S. at 200.

“There is no general authority to expose the private affairs of individuals without justification in terms of the functions of Congress.” Watkins, 354 U.S. at 187. “No inquiry is an end in itself; it must be related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of the Congress. Investigations conducted solely for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to ‘punish’ those investigated are indefensible.” Id. Similarly, Congress cannot exercise its investigative powers for the purpose of law enforcement because the power of law enforcement is vested in the executive and judicial branches. Quinn, 349 U.S. at 161.

 

Two purposes, the Dems want to find something anything for which Trump could be charged with a crime and his tax returns are their last thread of hope even though the IRS audits him regularly and have never charged him with a tax violation and second just to try to create some phony narrative about them without proper context to rouse their base.

 

I'm saying that you surely have a link that Trump influenced the supreme court during his presidency to not rule on his releasing of his tax returns. There was an active appeal prior.

Not sure if you are aware, this is pretty much the same supreme court that resided during the Trump administration that recently ruled to have Trumps tax returns released to the house Ways and Means committee..

 

They don't need Trump's tax returns to pass a law in an attempt to make it a requirement a person shows their tax returns else they cannot be elected President which will face a constitutional challenge in the Courts. They can do that without his tax returns. And the returns can ONLY be used by the committee in closed session so I don't know who else other than those members will be able to review them. And if that was the question all they have to do is ask the IRS to confirm the FEC disclosure forms they don't need to do that themselves. Has the FED or IRS voiced any such concerns?

 

No YOU are claiming the IRS could not file against him for a tax violation.

 

The teats are going to be scarce for all those in government. They can't even save SS from extinction.

 

Oversight is the rightful role of Congress. Criminal investigations and prosecution is not.

 

Sounds like the current Democrats are going full fascist on private citizens. Private citizens who oppose their power.

Where does it end? Same place Nazi Germany ended.

 

Then you don't know what the word "fascist" means and have a long way to go in learning some basic history. But disrespecting history was always the favorite hobby of the fringe right.

 

Nor does that factor in here. They still have no ability to criminally prosecute.

 

When oversight is done correctly, it can be a good thing. When it is abused to manufacture crimes then it is a bad thing.

 

It's an abuse of power.

 

The committee is in search of a crime. They should just let the executive branch enforce the laws. If the IRS can't do its job then Congress has a right to find out why not.

 

They have oversight over the IRS. And you are literally admitting that Congress has the right to take a look at them. The committee has no power to prosecute crimes. Trump had every opportunity to make these arguments. He tried. He failed.

 

Then why couldn't any successfully make that argument in court?

 

I'm not arguing against Congress' oversight role. The IRS is responsible for ensuring compliance with our tax laws. If they had a problem with Trump's tax returns they could have taken action. Did they?

 

Who has oversight over the IRS? Who has the ability to change the laws governing the IRS?

 

Biden will eventually pass Obama for the most destructive abuses of power we have seen.

 

Did the Supreme Court actually give a reason for its decision to let the stay be dropped? Or they just refused to hear the case?

 

Do you now how the appellate system works? But thank you for admitting that Trump had no case. Glad we can agree.

 

He will definitely pass Carter as the most incompetent president.

 

Until he tries to over throw democracy and install himself as an unelected dictator, he won't be as incompetent as Trump.

 

The SC is known not to intervene. That doesn't mean it agrees with the lower court rulings.