Trump’s Taxes

Court rules president not immune to criminal process

Not even the president of the United States is above the law — so says the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a key ruling in the long-running legal battle over President Donald Trump’s tax returns. By a 7-2 vote, the justices said the president is not immune from a subpoena for his financial records issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. as part of a grand jury criminal investigation.

The White House had argued that a sitting president cannot be “subject to criminal process” while in office.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, rejected that claim.

A president “is neither absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking his private papers nor entitled to a heightened standard of need,” he wrote.

It’s interesting to note Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — both appointed by President Trump — joined Roberts in the majority.

There was one bright spot for the president, though. The court declined to rule the U.S. House of Representatives could compel the White House to release financial records for two of its investigations.

It’s important to remember the court did not say the president must release his tax returns and other records immediately. Nor did it say the House can never win access to them. Both cases were sent back to lower courts for further consideration, which means the battle isn’t over. The White House will have to find some other excuse to keep the records under lock and key and the Manhattan DA and the House will do their best to get them. Stay tuned.