Jun 14, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Justice Department backs Treasury on blocking Trump tax returns

Rashaan Ayesh

President Donald Trump — Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Department of Justice is backing the Department of Treasury's decision to not release President Trump's tax returns to Congress.

Why it matters: The DOJ is asserting the request for Trump's tax returns serves no "legitimate legislative purpose," and therefore it doesn't have to be fulfilled. The opinion also says it's for this very reason that Congress can't subpoena the documents.

The big picture: Democrats have spent months looking for loopholes to get access to Trump's tax returns, with no success.

The fight for the tax returns is one of the many Congressional Democrats are taking up as they try to access other documents from the Trump administration, including 2020 Census documents.

What's next: The Treasury previously said they crafted their argument based on the advice of the DOJ, and this opinion has no legal weight. A court will still have to rule if Trump's tax returns can be released to Congress.

Read the opinion:

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Justice Department backs Treasury on blocking Trump tax returns

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