Mnuchin On Defying Tax Return Demand: Let The Courts Decide What I Can Do

on July 25, 2018 in Chincoteague, Virginia.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to the media on the White House driveway in front of the West Wing, on July 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin wants the courts to decide whether he is allowed to defy a congressional request for the President’s tax returns.

During a Wednesday Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) asked whether he believes that Congress has a “legitimate interest” in reviewing Trump’s returns.

“There is a difference in interpretation between Congress and us and the Department of Justice around this law,” Mnuchin said during his testimony before Senate Appropriations.

He went on to offer a civics lesson to the senator: “This is why there are three branches of government. If there is a difference of opinion, this will go to the third branch of government.”

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) issued a subpoena for Trump’s returns on Friday, after sending a request for them in April under a 1924 statute that empowers the chairman of the House Ways and Means committee to demand the returns of any filer. The statute states that the Treasury Secretary “shall furnish” the returns to Congress.

Mnuchin has refused the requests so far. His appearance before the Senate on Wednesday marks his first public comments on the matter since receiving the subpoena.

Mnuchin’s testimony before Congress suggests what has long been suspected: that the request will end up in a lengthy court battle.

Neal did not send the request to Mnuchin, but rather to IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. Nevertheless, Mnuchin has taken the lead in correspondence with Congress over the matter.

In later questioning from Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Mnuchin said that Rettig “concurred” with his decision.

“He has specifically sent notices to Ways and Means concurring with my decision,” Mnuchin said. 

Latest Muckraker

Notable Replies

  1. Impeach Trump. Munchkin is a Burma Shave sign on the way there.

  2. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    He went on to offer a civics lesson to the senator: “This is why there three branches of government. If there is a difference of opinion, this will go to the third branch of government.”

    The arrogance is so think it drips off the words. Reminds me of one of Gorsuch’s first appearances on the Court when he started lecturing to the other Justices.

    On a more general note - has their been a worse Sec. of the Treasury in recent history? In American history? I am betting that dude is not going to be treated well in the history books.

  3. Flipping the bird, daring the Committees to action.

    Impeach them all!!!

  4. Mnuchin added:

    “I cannot articulate a reason for the IRS to fail to comply with the simple, straightforward law which I am directing it to break. Therefore, I will claim it is a political dispute between two branches, pretending that the concept of government itself does not rely on all three branches being subject to the rule of law.”

  5. $50 says this chinless weasel eventually goes down. He’s too arrogant and stupid. He’ll do something Trump perceives as embarrassing or “weak,” and Trump will fire him by tweet.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

79 more replies

Participants

Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for oldionus Avatar for marincousa Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for marlowe Avatar for rollinnolan Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for jkrogman Avatar for sanni Avatar for schmed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for reggid Avatar for georgeh Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for noonm Avatar for greysea Avatar for aiddon Avatar for paul_lukasiak Avatar for dicktater Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: