Trump tax return debacle intensifies

The struggle in the US betweenhousedemocrats and the Trump administration over investigations intensified as a former White House official defied a subpoena and the Treasury Department ignored a deadline for providing president Donald Trump’s tax returns.

Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said the White House has adopted the “untenable” position that it can ignore requests from the Democratic majority in the House.

“It appears that the president believes that the Constitution does not apply to his White House, that he may order officials at will to violate their legal obligations, and that he may obstruct attempts by Congress to conduct oversight,” Mr Cummings, said in a statement.

Mr Cummings was specifically referring to Carl Kline, a former White House personnel security director, who was subpoenaed by Democrats and failed to show up on Tuesday for a scheduled deposition.