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US Supreme Court to rule on revealing Trump tax returns | US Supreme Court to rule on revealing Trump tax returns |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US Supreme Court is set to decide whether President Donald Trump's tax returns and other financial records can be examined by Congress and prosecutors - a ruling with potentially huge political consequences. | The US Supreme Court is set to decide whether President Donald Trump's tax returns and other financial records can be examined by Congress and prosecutors - a ruling with potentially huge political consequences. |
Mr Trump refuses to share documents concerning his fortune and business. | Mr Trump refuses to share documents concerning his fortune and business. |
His lawyers argue he enjoys total immunity while in office. | His lawyers argue he enjoys total immunity while in office. |
The ruling will test that claim and has implications on how far US lawmakers can scrutinise the president. | The ruling will test that claim and has implications on how far US lawmakers can scrutinise the president. |
Even a ruling in Congress's favour would not necessarily make Mr Trump's tax returns public before his bid for re-election in November. | Even a ruling in Congress's favour would not necessarily make Mr Trump's tax returns public before his bid for re-election in November. |
Mr Trump, who made his money as a property developer, is the first president since Richard Nixon in the 1970s not to have made his tax returns public. | Mr Trump, who made his money as a property developer, is the first president since Richard Nixon in the 1970s not to have made his tax returns public. |
He calls the investigation into his tax affairs a "witch hunt" and sees the congressional case as a device to harass him politically. | He calls the investigation into his tax affairs a "witch hunt" and sees the congressional case as a device to harass him politically. |
Why has this gone to the Supreme Court? | Why has this gone to the Supreme Court? |
Two Democrat-controlled House of Representatives committees and New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance - also a Democrat - are demanding the release of his tax returns and other information. | Two Democrat-controlled House of Representatives committees and New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance - also a Democrat - are demanding the release of his tax returns and other information. |
The subpoenas - orders to hand over evidence - were issued last year to Mazars USA, who are Mr Trump's accountants, and to major Trump lenders Deutsche Bank and Capital One. | The subpoenas - orders to hand over evidence - were issued last year to Mazars USA, who are Mr Trump's accountants, and to major Trump lenders Deutsche Bank and Capital One. |
Lower courts in Washington and New York ruled against the president in all cases, but those decisions have been put on hold pending a final court ruling. | Lower courts in Washington and New York ruled against the president in all cases, but those decisions have been put on hold pending a final court ruling. |
Deutsche Bank was one of the few banks willing to lend to Mr Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies in the 1990s, and the documents sought include records related to the president, the Trump Organization and his family. | Deutsche Bank was one of the few banks willing to lend to Mr Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies in the 1990s, and the documents sought include records related to the president, the Trump Organization and his family. |
The banks and the accounting firm said they would release the information if ordered. | The banks and the accounting firm said they would release the information if ordered. |
Mr Trump's lawyers argued that Congress had no authority to issue the subpoenas, and no valid justification to seek the records. | Mr Trump's lawyers argued that Congress had no authority to issue the subpoenas, and no valid justification to seek the records. |
Why is it sensitive politically? | Why is it sensitive politically? |
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. | 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. | Such payments could violate campaign financing laws. The president denies the affairs took place. |
Concerns have already been raised about possible conflicts of interest in Mr Trump's businesses. | Concerns have already been raised about possible conflicts of interest in Mr Trump's businesses. |
At hearings in May there was fierce debate among the Supreme Court judges over the degree to which Congress should scrutinise the president's personal records. | At hearings in May there was fierce debate among the Supreme Court judges over the degree to which Congress should scrutinise the president's personal records. |
In the New York case, they were sceptical about a Trump lawyer's argument that a president cannot be investigated while in office. | In the New York case, they were sceptical about a Trump lawyer's argument that a president cannot be investigated while in office. |
This is despite the court having a 5-4 conservative majority and including two Trump appointees - Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. | This is despite the court having a 5-4 conservative majority and including two Trump appointees - Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. |
In two earlier cases over presidential power, in 1974 the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring President Nixon to surrender White House tapes in the Watergate scandal, and 1997 it allowed a sexual harassment lawsuit to go ahead against President Bill Clinton. | In two earlier cases over presidential power, in 1974 the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring President Nixon to surrender White House tapes in the Watergate scandal, and 1997 it allowed a sexual harassment lawsuit to go ahead against President Bill Clinton. |
Judges appointed by Mr Nixon and Mr Clinton voted against them in the cases. | Judges appointed by Mr Nixon and Mr Clinton voted against them in the cases. |