In the latest update to the on-going battle between Dems and Trump – the former who are trying to sue to obtain Trump’s tax records, federal Judge Carl Nichols just blocked New York defendants from handing over Trump’s state tax returns, granting Trump yet another huge win!
However, the block is only temporary until the next hearing on August 29, where the final decision is scheduled to be made.
Take a look at this breaking news that hit Twitter:
NBC News has more details on the ruling:
A federal judge ordered New York state authorities Thursday to take no action, for the time being, on turning over President Donald Trump’s state tax returns if they’re requested by Congress.
U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols of the District of Columbia agreed with the president's lawyers, who said if they waited to take legal action until after the tax returns were turned over, it would be too late to challenge the state law because the tax documents would have already been made public.
“We look forward to continuing to make our case in court. This law is constitutional, and we will vigorously defend it,” said Letitia James, New York's attorney general.
The judge set arguments on the issue for Aug. 29.
The House Ways and Means Committee has been trying since April to get access to the president's federal tax returns, citing a federal law that allows inspection of the documents to verify that the IRS is properly auditing a president's returns. But the Treasury Department denied the request, saying that it served no legitimate legislative purpose.
The New York Post also had the following to say:
A federal judge on Thursday blocked New York from immediately turning over President Trump’s state tax returns to Congress.
The order by Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, bars the state from releasing the president’s tax returns while his lawsuit seeking to keep his records private proceeds.
The arm-wrestle over Trump’s New York returns began in earnest on July 8, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the “TRUST Act” into law.
The Tax Returns Released Under Specific Terms Act allows the state Department of Taxation and Finance to release any elected official’s tax returns “for a specified and legitimate legislative purpose” upon the written request of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, or the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that no records should be released prior to a judge determining the legality of the law.
The judge also set a schedule for the case to proceed — throughout which Trump’s state tax returns cannot be disclosed.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!