{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"}],"id":29650,"title":"DOJ Says IRS Right to Withhold Trump’s Tax Returns From Congress – Do You Agree?","html_content":"\n

by Causes | 6.17.19

What’s the story?

The Justice Department has issued a legal opinion backing the Treasury Department’s defiance to provide President Donald Trump’s tax returns to Congress.
\"While the Executive Branch should accord due deference and respect to congressional requests, Treasury was not obliged to accept the Committee’s stated purpose without question, and based on all the facts and circumstances, we agreed that the Committee lacked a legitimate legislative purpose for its request,\" Steven Engel, an assistant attorney general in DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel, wrote in the 33-page opinion.\n

“No one could reasonably believe that the Committee seeks six years of President Trump’s tax returns because of a newly discovered interest in legislating on the presidential-audit process. The Committee’s request reflects the next assay in a longstanding political battle over the President’s tax returns.”

Last month, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin denied House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal's (D-MA) request for six years of Trump's personal tax returns.

What’s the response?

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) hammered the DOJ over its legal opinion, tweeting:

“What is the President hiding in his tax returns? And since when does 'shall' mean 'unless it displeases Trump?'And, perhaps more importantly: What will be left of DOJ’s independence and reputation for impartial justice after Barr? The answer? Very little.”

What do you think?

Do you support House Democrats requesting Trump’s tax returns? Or do you support Mnuchin’s refusal to hand them over? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: @RealDonaldTrump via Twitter)

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