Posted on 05/22/2019 12:13:57 PM PDT by jazusamo
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sat before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday to face a group of Democrats who want President Trump's tax returns. The House Ways and Means Committee recently issued a subpoena for six years of returns, which the administration rejected.
Mnuchin's letter to the Democrats concluded that their request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose." A federal judge upheld the subpoena, but it was perhaps no surprise considering he was appointed by President Obama. Additionally, the chief counsel's office drafted an IRS memo noting that chairmen of congressional committees don't need "a legitimate legislative purpose" for requesting tax returns.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) felt compelled to give Mnuchin a constitutional lesson on the three coequal branches of government at Wednesday's hearing.
"The executive branch, right?" she asked sarcastically. "Which executes the laws. You don't make the laws. We make the laws," she said, pointing to herself and her colleagues.
"I understand there are three branches of government and they perform different functions," Mnuchin coolly responded.
The witness continued to defend Trump's decision not to comply with their demands, insisting he had not violated the law. Since he wasn't giving the Democrats what they wanted, they warned him to get a lawyer.
Rep Tlaib tells Mnuchin to seek out “personal legal advice” in regards to the coverup going on in the White House.
"Secretary, please seek out legal advice personally, of what your obligations are, because the Department of Justice is not protecting you, it's protecting the president," Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) suggested.
Using the same phrase Pelosi used this morning, Tlaib accused Mnuchin of engaging in a "cover-up" on behalf of the occupant of the White House.
Democrats noted as soon as they won the House last fall that obtaining Trump's tax returns was going to be one of their top priorities .
I don’t understand why they need or want his tax returns from before he was President.
Let say there is something in them what would that have to do with him serving as President. Wouldn’t have been better if they had done this crap while he was running for President?
Tlaib is all jackass all the time
“I’m curious, is the judge in question also a FISA judge?”
After Trump is re-elected and we again hold the House, the number one legislative act needs to be the abolition of the FISA Court. There is simply no place in an open society for a “secret court” for any purpose.
I see what you’re saying - thanks
Speaking of cover up this hag would look much better in a full, ninja style burka.
there is nothing in them and trump is having them do down rabbit hole.. Trump is so big that IRS/state gov’t constantly audit him because that is where the money is. Gov’t has never charged him with any tax evasion crimes and his CPA has never been cited for breaking ethic rules in doing his taxes.. Most likely followed laws and limited his tax liability(tax avoidance). Any CPA that values his license will do everything ethical to limit tax liability for his client.
Did she just threaten him? That is criminal activity.
This is a Michigan hag.
So why are they asking for them just so they can make him look bad which is what the Dems do they just make stuff up and the media runs with it like it’s true.
Thanks - these radicals that the Democrats put into power.......
That may be but “Distict” judges can also be a part of the FISA court ie. Rudolph Contreras”.
These dems are nasty
Note there are no accusations of wrongdoing. This is a fishing expedition, plain and simple. As such it is completely illegal.
Democrats are bullies.
Yep, if a constitutional crisis lasts only a day or so and nothing becomes of it I guess they aren't so bad after all. Kinda like the sky falling every day, it seems to rise back up the next morning.
I believe we seen the tax avoidance items already from last week where his 1990’s financial statement were illegally leaked. we still have not seen 2000’s and 2010 where it will probably show trump payed tens of million in taxes with his comeback. There won’t be any illegal activity as that would have been dislosed already and dems will look like fools when it shows all the taxes he paid.
You’re dead on the mark.
Of course when these mental giants “think” there’s wrongdoing it must be so, thus the fishing expedition.
I get that so why are they asking for them if there is no there there even if President Trump gave them the tax forms.
There has got to be some crooked scheme attached to the request. Is it just for the optics of Trumps refusal so they can say see he is obstucting?
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