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In a bombshell from the courts, a judge in NY has denied President Donald Trump’s request for his taxes not to be turned over to a grand jury.
US District Judge Victor Marrero dismissed Trump’s claim that any occupant of the White House has “absolute immunity from criminal process of any kind.” He followed that by calling it a position that would “constitute an overreach of executive power, and “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values.”
Appeal Filed
Immediately after, Trump’s attorneys filed an emergency notice of appeal to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals. A temporary stay of the subpoena was granted.
Earlier today, Trump took aim at the ruling on his Twitter page. “The Radical Left Democrats have failed on all fronts, so now they are pushing local New York City and State Democrat prosecutors to go get President Trump,” he tweeted. “A thing like this has never happened to any President before. Not even close!” Trump tweeted. Also, attorneys representing the Justice Department said they would be part of the appeal. They will support Trump’s appeal as “amicus counsel.”
The district attorney is investigating Trump’s involvement in hush payments made to two women during the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. The investigation is corroborating if the Trump Organization violated New York state laws as it reimbursed Michael Cohen. Cohen originally paid the two women the supposed “hush payments.” He is currently serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in a federal case.
Mazars USA, Trump’s accounting firm, was subpoenaed to turn over Trump’s taxes. After the ruling, a spokeswoman for Mazars USA said they will “respect the legal process,” as well as to comply with its “legal obligations.”
Trump has faced subpoenas for his tax returns previously. A House committee is actively threatening legal action as they subpoena them.