For years, Democrats and other anti-Trump politicians have been looking for a way to take a peek at The Don’s tax returns, believing that they may be able to find something within them that could be of use in their quest to keep the controversial politician from remaining an influential figure in American politics.
Thus far, they’ve had little luck. While a great many past Presidents have released their tax returns to the public, there is no official need to do so, nor is there any rule that exists mandating this level of transparency.
And so, as they continue to pry into Trump’s personal finances, the now-former President is getting some help in maintaining this privacy from the highest court in the land.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday temporarily blocked the House Ways and Means Committee from obtaining years of federal income tax returns of former President Donald Trump and related business entities from the IRS.
Roberts’ order came a day after Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court requesting the delay, and two days before the IRS was set to give the committee the Republican’s tax returns.
The chief justice gave the Ways and Means Committee until Nov. 10 to respond to Trump’s application for the delay.
The committee appeared to believe that this wouldn’t be the end of the discussion.
Dylan Peachey, a spokeswoman for the Ways and Means Committee, in a statement responding to Roberts’ order said the committee “maintains the law is on our side, and will file a timely response as requested.”
Peachey also said that Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., “looks forward to the Supreme Court’s expeditious consideration.”
The fight over Trump’s tax returns has been ongoing for years, and it looks like there is still more conflict yet to come.
