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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 11 May 2019

House Democrat issues subpoenas for Trump tax returns

By ANDREW TAYLOR edented is a Justice De-
Associated Press partment that again sees
WASHINGTON (AP) — A top its role as being bodyguard
House Democrat on Friday to the executive and not
issued subpoenas for six the rule of law,” said Rep.
years of President Donald Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. “What’s
Trump’s tax returns, giving unprecedented is an entire
Treasury Secretary Steven federal government work-
Mnuchin and IRS Com- ing in concert to shield a
missioner Charles Rettig a corrupt president from le-
deadline of next Friday to gal accountability.”
deliver them. But the president has told
Ways and Means Com- those close to him that the
mittee Chairman Rich- attempt to get his returns
ard Neal, D-Mass., issued was an invasion of his priva-
the subpoenas days after cy and a further example
Mnuchin refused to comply of what he calls the Demo-
with demands to turn over crat-led “witch hunt” — like
Trump’s returns. Mnuchin Mueller’s Russia probe —
told the panel he wouldn’t meant to damage him.
provide Trump’s tax re- Trump has repeatedly
cords because the panel’s asked aides as to the status
request “lacks a legitimate of the House request and
legislative purpose,” as Su- has not signaled a willing
preme Court precedent House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., is joined at right by Rep. Tom to cooperate with Demo-
requires. Reed, R-N.Y., at a hearing on taxpayer noncompliance on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, crats, according to a White
Neal reminded the two May 9, 2019. House official and two
Trump appointees in a Fri- Associated Press Republicans close to the
day letter that federal law nas, Neal is likely to file a said he relied on the ad- single individual for purely White House.
states that the IRS “shall lawsuit in federal court. He vice of the Justice Depart- political purposes,” said He has linked the effort to
furnish” the tax returns of indicated earlier this week ment. He concluded that ranking Ways and Means the myriad House probes
any individual upon the re- that he was leaning toward the Treasury Department panel Republican Kevin into his administration and
quest of the chairmen of filing a court case immedi- is “not authorized to dis- Brady, R-Texas. has urged his team to
Congress’ tax-writing com- ately but changed course close the requested returns “While I do not take this stonewall all requests. He
mittees and that Ways and after meeting with lawyers and return information.” step lightly, I believe this also has inquired about the
Means “has never been for the House. Mnuchin has also said that action gives us the best op- “loyalty” of the top officials
denied” a request. Neal originally demanded Neal’s request would po- portunity to succeed and at the IRS, according to
The White House and the access to Trump’s tax re- tentially weaponize private obtain the requested ma- one of his advisers.
Democratic-controlled turns in early April. He main- tax returns for political pur- terial,” Neal said in a state- Trump has long told con-
House are waging a multi- tains that the committee poses. Republicans say ment. fidants that he was under
front battle over investiga- is looking into the effec- Neal is using the arcane Trump has privately made audit and therefore could
tions into Trump and the tiveness of IRS mandatory 1924 law that empowers clear he has no intention not release his taxes. But in
administration has been audits of tax returns of all him to obtain any individu- of turning over the much- recent weeks, he has add-
refusing to comply across sitting presidents, a way al’s tax filing to play politics coveted records. ed to the argument, telling
the board, refusing to com- to justify his claim that the with Trump. He is the first president since advisers that the American
ply with subpoenas for the panel has a potential legis- Democrats also want to Watergate to decline to people elected him once
unredacted report by Spe- lative purpose. probe into Trump’s business make his tax returns pub- without seeing his taxes
cial Counsel Robert Muel- Democrats are confident in dealings, particularly his lic, often claiming that he and would do so again,
ler and documents related their legal justification and business relationships with would release them if he according to the three of-
to the testimony by former say Trump is stalling in an foreigners and to see who was not under audit. ficials, who were not au-
White House Counsel Don- attempt to punt the issue he owes money to. “What’s unprecedented thorized to speak publicly
ald McGahn. past the 2020 election. “Your request is merely a is this secretary refusing to about private conversa-
If Mnuchin and Rettig refuse In rejecting Neal’s request means to access and make comply with our lawful ... tions and spoke on condi-
to comply with the subpoe- earlier this week, Mnuchin public the tax returns of a request. What’s unprec- tion of anonymity.q