House Democrats Sue Treasury Department Over Trump Tax Returns

July 2, 2019 by Dan McCue
House Democrats Sue Treasury Department Over Trump Tax Returns

WASHINGTON –  House Democrats sued the Trump administration in federal court Tuesday for access to President Donald Trump’s tax returns, setting up a legal showdown over the records.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the House Ways and Means Committee said it needs to review the documents to investigate tax law compliance by the president and other issues.

The 49-page filing on Tuesday brings the dispute between the White House and House Democrats over the president’s taxes to a whole new level.

Although the president previously sued to prevent lawmakers on Capitol Hill from delving into his personal finances, this is the first time the committee, chaired by Representative Richard Neal, D-Mass., has gone to court to press for the records.

In April, Neal sent a request to the IRS for six years of Trump’s tax records under a law that says the Internal Revenue Service “shall furnish” the returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers.

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin rebuffed the committee weeks later, saying he believed its request lacked a legitimate legislative purpose.

The Justice Department in a legal opinion backed Mnuchin’s position, saying the request lacked a legitimate legislative purpose and was an “unprecedented” use of congressional authority.

Neal then issued subpoenas to Treasury and the IRS for Trump’s tax returns, which Mnuchin also rejected.

In its lawsuit, the committee says the administration has refused “for what the committee believes is the first time ever” to turn over the documents “in order to shield President Trump’s tax return information from Congressional scrutiny.”

“Without reviewing the requested return materials, the Committee cannot ensure that the IRS’s audit process is functioning fairly and effectively, understand how provisions of the tax code are impacted by President Trump’s returns or exercise its legislative judgment to determine whether changes to the code may be warranted,” the lawsuit said.

The complaint goes on to say that “[i]n refusing to comply with the statute, Defendants have mounted an extraordinary attack on the authority of Congress to obtain information needed to conduct oversight of Treasury, the IRS, and the tax laws on behalf of the American people who participate in the nation’s voluntary tax system.”

A+
a-
  • Donald Trump
  • House Democrats
  • Litigation
  • tax returns
  • Treasury Department
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Litigation

    April 15, 2025
    by Tom Ramstack
    Meta’s Zuckerberg Defends Against Allegations of Monopoly Tactics

    WASHINGTON — Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified for a second day Tuesday in a Washington, D.C., court that... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified for a second day Tuesday in a Washington, D.C., court that his company has encouraged the growth of social media but not the anticompetitive dominance alleged by the Federal Trade Commission. The trial in the antitrust case... Read More

    April 4, 2025
    by Tom Ramstack
    Protests and New Lawsuit Follow Trump’s Economic Announcements 

    PENSACOLA, Fla. — The first lawsuit was filed Thursday to oppose President Donald Trump's tariffs on China in a growing... Read More

    PENSACOLA, Fla. — The first lawsuit was filed Thursday to oppose President Donald Trump's tariffs on China in a growing tide of protests against his administration. The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed the lawsuit on behalf of a small Florida business that sells stationery and other... Read More

    March 20, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    New York’s Top Court Nixes Bid for Noncitizen Voting in NYC

    ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state’s highest court on Thursday ended an effort by the New York City Council to... Read More

    ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state’s highest court on Thursday ended an effort by the New York City Council to allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections. Though the local law never went into effect, the Democrat-led city council heralded its passage in December 2021, calling... Read More

    CBS' '60 Minutes' Is Unflinching in Its White House Coverage in the Shadow of Trump's $20B Lawsuit

    NEW YORK (AP) — As CBS corporate leaders ponder settling President Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against the network's “60 Minutes,” America's... Read More

    NEW YORK (AP) — As CBS corporate leaders ponder settling President Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against the network's “60 Minutes,” America's storied newsmagazine has produced some fast and hard-hitting stories critical of the new administration in every episode since Trump was inaugurated. The latest was Sunday, when... Read More

    Peruvian Farmer’s Case Against German Energy Giant RWE Could Reshape Global Climate Accountability

    BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — As a crucial climate lawsuit heads to trial in Germany next week, experts say the case brought by... Read More

    BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — As a crucial climate lawsuit heads to trial in Germany next week, experts say the case brought by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against German energy giant RWE could set a significant precedent in the fight to hold major polluters accountable for climate change.... Read More

    March 13, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Attorneys General From 20 States, DC Sue Over Ed Dept Staff Reductions

    WASHINGTON — Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday sued the Trump administration over... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday sued the Trump administration over its efforts to dramatically cut the Education Department’s workforce. On Tuesday, the administration told more than 1,300 staffers to leave their offices by 6 p.m. and... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top