JUDGE DENIES TRUMP BID TO QUASH SUBPOENA FOR FINANCIAL RECORDS

Washington — A federal judge on Monday denied President Donald Trump’s bid to quash a House subpoena for years of his financial records from his accounting firm and stayed his order seven days to give the president’s lawyers time to appeal. The ruling handed an initial defeat to Trump’s vow to defy subpoenas by House Democrats and came in one of the first courtroom challenges to a series of lawmakers’ investigative demands for his bank records, accounting statements and tax returns. District Judge Amit Mehta of Washington refused to block the records request to Mazars USA from the House Oversight and Reform Committee while litigation continues. Attorneys for Trump and associated businesses filed suit April 22, arguing that Congress is not entitled to investigate his past personal financial dealings for potential corruption.