Trump must release tax return records
The US Supreme Court yesterday made it clear that a sitting president cannot evade criminal investigations, ruling that a prosecutor in New York City can obtain President Donald Trump's financial records including tax returns.
The 7-2 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts means that the subpoena issued to Trump's long-term accounting firm, Mazars LLP, for various financial records to be turned over to a grand jury as part of a criminal investigation can be enforced.
"Two hundred years ago, a great jurist of our Court established that no citizen, not even the President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding," the court said. "We reaffirm that principle today."
The court was due to issue a second ruling imminently in related litigation involving subpoenas for Trump's financial records by Democratic-led House of Representatives committees.
Unlike other recent presidents, Trump has refused to release his tax returns and other documents that could provide details on his wealth and businesses.
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