House’s subpoena for President Trump’s financial documents will remain blocked The Supreme Court said, sending the controversial case back to the lower court for further review.
Chief Judge John Roberts wrote opinion 7-2. Judges Thomas and Alito submitted differences of opinion. Two Presidential nominations cast majority votes.
About this case: The case pitted the President’s personal lawyer with Democrat House who said they needed records from Trump’s old accounting firm and two banks. The Board believes that they sought records from Mazars USA, Deutsche Bank and Capital One for the purpose of investigating whether Congress should amend federal conflict of interest and financial disclosure laws, as well as laws governing banks.
Lawyers for the DPR stressed that the subpoena was directed at a third party, not the President, and that the documents were not related to his official duties. Trump believes there is no legitimate legislative purpose for the documents, and instead the Parliament is involved in a fishing expedition to see if it violates the law.
Key moments of oral argument: In The beginning of May, Trump’s lawyer argued that the House summons was “unprecedented in every way.”
When a lawyer for the House of Representatives denied supporting subpoenas issued by three committees, some conservative judges focused on whether the efforts carried out by the Democrat-led house were the same as harassment against Trump.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice John Roberts asked lawyers about the limits of congressional power and suggested that the DPR need to consider the fact that subpoenas were involved, not in ordinary cases, but the President.
Meanwhile, liberal judges pounce on lawyers for Trump, pointing out that the court has long strengthened Congress’ power to investigate.
Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted that every recent president voluntarily submits his tax return. He pointed to past investigations about Watergate, Whitewater and Paula Jones.
“How do you distinguish between those cases,” he asked, adding that before Congress could make laws, it had to investigate.
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