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.
Impeach Trump. Munchkin is a Burma Shave sign on the way there.
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.
Flipping the bird, daring the Committees to action.
Impeach them all!!!
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.”
$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.