Donald Trump is so desperate to keep his tax returns under wraps that, as suspected, he will take the battle to the Supreme Court. This decision comes after his legal team exhausted several other options. From the Washington Post:
The case involves Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s attempt to enforce a grand jury subpoena issued to the president’s accountants for eight years of Trump’s tax records.
Trump went to court to block the subpoena, making a broad claim that U.S. presidents are immune from investigation while in office. A district judge and a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled against him, saying that the subpoena was proper and that the president’s longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, must comply.
Jay Sekulow, one of Trump’s personal attorneys released a statement saying, “The Second Circuit decision is wrong and should be reversed:”
“We have filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Second Circuit decision regarding a subpoena issued by the New York County District Attorney… The subpoena violates the U.S. Constitution and therefore is unenforceable. We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will grant review in this significant constitutional case and reverse the dangerous and damaging decision of the appeals court.”
In their petition urging the Supreme Court to hear their appeal, Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that he was immune from all criminal proceedings and investigations so long as he remained in office. But even if some federal investigations may be proper, the petition said, the Supreme Court should rule that state and local prosecutors may not seek information about a sitting president’s conduct.
Dan Rather points out the gravity of this situation:
President Trump’s going to the Supreme Court to block his tax returns. There must be something about them that is threatening, but at this point, it’s all speculation. So much at stake. Separation of powers. The legitimacy of the Court. And the accountability of this President.
