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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 8 OcTOber 2019

Judge says New York prosecutors can see Trump's tax returns

NEW YORK (AP) — With not appear on the state's
President Donald Trump un- primary ballot. A federal
der siege on Capitol Hill, a judge blocked the law this
federal judge dealt him a month, saying it is probably
setback on another front unconstitutional.
Monday and ruled that Vance began his probe
New York City prosecutors after federal prosecutors in
can see his tax returns for New York completed their
an investigation into mat- investigation into payments
ters including the payment that Trump's former person-
of hush money to porn star al lawyer, Michael Cohen,
Stormy Daniels and a Play- arranged to be made to
boy centerfold. the two women to keep
U.S. District Judge Victor them silent during the presi-
Marrero emphatically re- dential race.
jected Trump's attempt to Cohen is serving a three-
keep his financial records year prison sentence for
under wraps, calling the crimes that included cam-
president's broad claim of paign finance violations in
immunity from all criminal connection with the hush
proceedings "extraordi- money.
nary" and "an overreach of Trump was never charged,
executive power" at odds though prosecutors said
with the Constitution. publicly that he was aware
For now, at least, the tax of and directed the illegal
returns remain beyond payments. Justice Depart-
the reach of prosecutors. ment policy has long been
The president's lawyers ap- that sitting presidents can-
pealed the judge's ruling to not be charged criminally.
the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court Grand jury proceedings
of Appeals, which put the and records in New York
matter on hold while it con- are secret. If Vance gains
siders the case on an expe- access to Trump's returns
dited basis. through a grand jury investi-
At issue is a request from In this May 10, 2018, file photo, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., responds to a ques- gation, that doesn't neces-
Manhattan District Attor- tion during a news conference in New York. sarily mean their contents
ney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. that Associated Press will be disclosed publicly.
Trump's accounting firm It is unclear what Trump's re-
turn over eight years' worth The district attorney's office stretch to cover every ate a balance of power turns might have to do with
of his business and personal declined to comment. phase of criminal proceed- among the three branches the criminal investigation or
tax returns dating back to The investigation is unfold- ings, including investiga- of government. why prosecutors are reach-
2011. ing with Trump already tions, grand jury proceed- Trump has steadfastly re- ing back as far as 2011.
Vance, a Democrat, is facing a fast-moving im- ings and subpoenas, indict- fused to make his tax re- But the long reach of the
investigating payments peachment drive by House ment, prosecution, arrest, turns public, breaking a tra- subpoena might stem in
made to buy the silence of Democrats that was set trial, conviction, and incar- dition set by presidents and part from testimony Cohen
Daniels and model Karen off by his attempts to get ceration," Marrero wrote. White House candidates gave to Congress early
McDougal, both of whom Ukraine's leader to investi- "That constitutional pro- decades ago. He has also this year when he asserted
claimed to have had af- gate his political rival Joe tection presumably would gone to court to fight con- that Trump overstated his
fairs with the president. Biden. encompass any conduct, gressional subpoenas is- wealth to financial institu-
"The Radical Left Demo- Trump's lawyers have said at any time, in any forum, sued to his bank for various tions before he became
crats have failed on all that Vance's investigation whether federal or state, personal financial records, president.
fronts," Trump fumed on is politically motivated and and whether the President including his tax returns. Cohen turned over copies
Twitter after the judge's rul- that the request for tax re- acted alone or in concert That dispute is also before of financial statements he
ing, "so now they are push- cords should be stopped with other individuals." the federal appeals court. said the president provided
ing local New York City because Trump is immune The judge said he couldn't In yet another effort to pry to Deutsche Bank during a
and State Democrat pros- from any criminal probe as accept that legal view, loose Trump's tax records, 2014 effort to buy the Buf-
ecutors to go get President long as he is president. "especially in the light of California recently passed falo Bills. The statements
Trump. A thing like this has The judge swept that claim the fundamental concerns a law requiring candidates showed Trump's net worth
never happened to any aside as overly broad. over excessive arroga- for president or governor to soaring from $4.55 billion
President before. Not even "As the court reads it, presi- tion of power" that led the turn over five years' worth in 2012 to $8.66 billion in
close!" dential immunity would founding fathers to cre- of returns, or else they can- 2013.q