Trump, for now, can keep tax returns from Manhattan prosecutor

[webfact]

Trump, for now, can keep tax returns from Manhattan prosecutor

By Jonathan Stempel

 

FILE PHOTO: Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. leaves a hearing in U.S. President Donald Trump's tax case in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday granted President Donald Trump's request to delay Manhattan's district attorney from accessing his tax returns in connection with a criminal probe of his business practices.

 

The unsigned order by a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan was a victory for the president in his yearlong quest to block District Attorney Cyrus Vance from enforcing a grand jury subpoena for eight years of personal and corporate returns.

 

Trump has been challenging an Aug. 20 decision by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to let Vance obtain the returns from the president's longtime accounting firm Mazars USA.

 

The district attorney had wanted access to the returns even during Trump's appeal, but Tuesday's order ends that possibility for now. Oral arguments have been scheduled for Sept. 25.

 

A spokesman for Vance declined to comment.

 

Jay Sekulow, one of Trump's lawyers, said they were pleased with the order and looked forward to arguing the merits of the president's appeal.

 

Vance began his probe after news that Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen paid pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet before the 2016 election about claimed sexual encounters with Trump, which the president has denied.

 

In July, the Supreme Court refused to block the subpoena, rejecting Trump's claim of absolute immunity from criminal probes while in the White House, but said Trump could raise other objections.

 

Trump is seeking re-election on Nov. 3. Vance has complained that dragging out the litigation has effectively given the Republican president the immunity he wanted.

 

Grand jury proceedings are held in secret, and if Trump's tax returns were handed over it could take months for the public to learn their contents.

 

The prior six presidents, both Republican and Democrat, from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, have released their tax returns.

 

Following the Supreme Court decision, Trump claimed that the subpoena from Vance, a Democrat, was "wildly overbroad" and issued in bad faith.

 

In seeking a stay, William Consovoy, another lawyer for Trump, told the appeals court that giving Vance a chance even to see the returns would cause the president irreparable harm.

 

"The status quo can never be restored," he said. "We can't make them forget what they learn."

 

Carey Dunne, a lawyer for Vance, downplayed that concern. "The toothpaste can be put back into the tube sufficiently to protect people's rights," he said.

 

Dunne also said each category of documents Vance sought was "directly relevant" to his probe, and Trump offered no specifics to suggest otherwise.

 

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Tom Brown)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-02

 

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[Tug]

To bad would be nice before the election certainly makes one wonder just what trumps hiding 

[Tippaporn]

Just now, Tug said:

To bad would be nice before the election certainly makes one wonder just what trumps hiding 

Nothing.

[Eric Loh]

Just now, Tippaporn said:

Nothing.

Nothing to be afraid then to disclose the tax returns. Right?

[amexpat]

5 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Nothing to be afraid then to disclose the tax returns. Right?

As promised since 2016. 

[cmarshall]

The fact is that since Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance has been getting a trove of documents for the past year from his subpoena of Deutsche Bank, there is probably nothing in Trump's tax returns that he does not already know.  While the investigation is ongoing none of the evidence can be made public, but eventually much of it will be submitted as evidence in criminal trials of the Trump crime family and will then become public.  I assume that Vance is only going after the tax returns, because when that day arrives and the public can see it, the tax return will be more easily understood than the much more extensive documentation of financial crimes from Deutsche.

 

Vance is no doubt highly motivated to prosecute the Trump gang if only to attempt to clear the cloud that has been over his head since he rejected a recommendation from his prosecutors to charge Ivanka and Don Jr. with real estate fraud following which he received a $50,000 bribe from Trump's attorney, Marc Kassowitz.  New York State Attorney General Leticia James has an equally powerful incentive to prosecute Trump et al. since she wants to be governor.

 

This is a case where federalism may yet save the day.

[Tippaporn]

54 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Nothing to be afraid then to disclose the tax returns. Right?

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

Nothing.

You're living the dream.

[Sujo]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

He said he would. 

[Eric Loh]

57 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

You were swift to vehemently announced that he has nothing to hide and now you not too sure. Make up your mind before asking others. 

[Tippaporn]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

3 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

You were swift to vehemently announced that he has nothing to hide and now you not too sure. Make up your mind before asking others. 

LOL.  Bolden the language in my post that comes anywhere close to implying that "I'm not sure."

 

Aside from attempting to read something into my post that's not there you failed to respond to what was there . . . the question.

 

I think you're just yanking my chain, which in forum parlance would be called trolling.

 

Edited September 2, 2020 by Tippaporn

[TheFishman1]

In 2016 he promised to show his taxes another promise he makes he breaks of course he doesn’t wanna show his tax returns all roads lead to Russia he will go down as the worst president in the history of America

[wwest5829]

7 hours ago, cmarshall said:

The fact is that since Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance has been getting a trove of documents for the past year from his subpoena of Deutsche Bank, there is probably nothing in Trump's tax returns that he does not already know.  While the investigation is ongoing none of the evidence can be made public, but eventually much of it will be submitted as evidence in criminal trials of the Trump crime family and will then become public.  I assume that Vance is only going after the tax returns, because when that day arrives and the public can see it, the tax return will be more easily understood than the much more extensive documentation of financial crimes from Deutsche.

 

Vance is no doubt highly motivated to prosecute the Trump gang if only to attempt to clear the cloud that has been over his head since he rejected a recommendation from his prosecutors to charge Ivanka and Don Jr. with real estate fraud following which he received a $50,000 bribe from Trump's attorney, Marc Kassowitz.  New York State Attorney General Leticia James has an equally powerful incentive to prosecute Trump et al. since she wants to be governor.

 

This is a case where federalism may yet save the day.

Agreed. "The prior six presidents, both Republican and Democrat, from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, have released their tax returns....

 

In seeking a stay, William Consovoy, another lawyer for Trump, told the appeals court that giving Vance a chance even to see the returns would cause the president irreparable harm.

 

The status quo can never be restored," he said. "We can't make them forget what they learn."

 

Pretty well sums it up! We learn the facts and it will due irreparable har m ... well, actually only confirm the harm he has caused himself through his own words, his own policies, his own actions .

[mrfill]

7 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

[wabothai]

8 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Nothing.

 

7 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

let's be honest, how do you know he has nothing to hide.

Are you his personal accountant?

[Pattaya Spotter]

It was a nice try Cyrus...trying to help your fellow Democrat Joe Biden with an "October Surprise,"...too bad the courts saw right through it. Now you can go back to ignoring complaints of sexual harassment and assault from the women of New York City.

[riclag]

11 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Nothing.

Oh the Political fodder it would create! Hundreds of thousands of accountants on social media each with their own Interpretation  of  how teams and teams of hired accountants  Interpreted tax laws !

Just the optics of doubt by the far left would create another gotcha moment lol. Just my layman opinion !

Good for Donald

Edited September 2, 2020 by riclag

[shdmn]

32 minutes ago, riclag said:

Oh the Political fodder it would create! Hundreds of thousands of accountants on social media each with their own Interpretation  of  how teams and teams of hired accountants  Interpreted tax laws !

Just the optics of doubt by the far left would create another gotcha moment lol. Just my layman opinion !

Good for Donald

Yea, aggressively trying to block all attempts from getting access to documents that are a routine exercise for previous presidents is definitely what an innocent person with nothing to hide would do. 

Edited September 2, 2020 by shdmn

[Tie Dye Samurai]

10 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

What you gloss over as "dirt" can reasonably be assumed to be a plethora of illegal fraudulent BS that would explain many of the choices, decisions and policies that Trump has made. And if it isn't? Well then Trump should show the documents like every other presidential candidate since 1976 and shut people like me up. And by the way, if there isn't a bunch of bad stuff in his taxes, then why is he wasting the time of the courts, especially the SCOTUS, trying to claim he is above and beyond the law because he is POTUS? This is the very argument that reveals his mindset and why his "reign" needs to end. And as far as "the endless false claims that would arise" if Trump shows his taxes? Here is a revelation for you: Trump shows his taxes and THE FALSE CLAIMS ARE PROVEN WRONG WITH THE DOCUMENTS...instead of the endless speculation over what might be in those documents that are legitimate concerns when the president of the United States is so petrified to show his financial information, after he promised he would before THE LAST ELECTION, that he goes all the way to SCOTUS with the argument that he is above the law. 

 

The same guy who wont disclose his taxes screamed loud and long for a former President to show his birth certificate. That President had integrity and provided his documents. The current president comes up embarrassingly short in the integrity department. The very fact you labeled all of this "dirt" shows what your true opinion of what is in those taxes as well...as long as we are all being honest here...right?

 

[ChouDoufu]

3 hours ago, mrfill said:

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

 

 

if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

 

president xi approves of this message.

 

 

[JulesMad]

12 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Nothing.

What about 'what not'? Stormy 1,2,3 and others, multiple bastards, etc etc. There is no end to his list of skeletons in the closet

[Morch]

14 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Let's be honest for a change.  What we do know with certainty is that there are plenty of people who hate Trump with a passion and who lack any semblance of self integrity causing them to willingly and knowingly put out false information about Trump.  We also know these some people only want to get his tax returns in order to find dirt on him.  Can you imagine, then, the endless false claims that would arise as these people pour over his returns?

 

Would you put yourself in that situation?  Put aside your feelings for Trump and be honest and objective here.

 

"Let's be honest for a change."

 

Starts with a faux call for honesty, goes on yet another dishonest hyper partisan rant.

 

You do not speak for "we". And what you claim to know with "certainty" is nothing of the sort.

"Hate"? Sure, lets reduce all fact based, structured criticisms about Trump into an emoji.

"Self integrity"? Self integrity should kick in before posting such nonsense as the above.

"False information"? That's what Trump does day in, day out. No complaints from you about that.

"Only to get dirt"? Well, yeah, if by "dirt" you mean something illegal etc., that's sort of the point.

"Endless false claims"? Yeah, expect there will be a lot of them from Team Trump.

"Objective"? You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, riclag said:

Oh the Political fodder it would create! Hundreds of thousands of accountants on social media each with their own Interpretation  of  how teams and teams of hired accountants  Interpreted tax laws !

Just the optics of doubt by the far left would create another gotcha moment lol. Just my layman opinion !

Good for Donald

 

Oh you mean like the optics of doubt used by the other side? Like alleging this or that unverified nonsense, spreading conspiracy theories, things someone told to someone, and such? Yeah, can't have that, now. Just your layman opinion, sure, gosh - who would wanna handle all this info or even hear about it, better put on a MAGA cap and chant "lock her up!" or something.

 

Far left - again with this nonsense? And from a self proclaimed "swing voter"? Anyone who's criticizing Trump or opposing him is "far left" now?

[Venom]

21 hours ago, Tug said:

To bad would be nice before the election certainly makes one wonder just what trumps hiding 

Certainly nothing illegal as I'm sure he's been under investigation continuously for the last 4 years. Maybe some tax deductions? 

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Nothing to be afraid then to disclose the tax returns. Right?

He doesn't have to, no matter what the left want. End of.

 

The decision is one for justice, IMO.

Edited September 3, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, JulesMad said:

What about 'what not'? Stormy 1,2,3 and others, multiple bastards, etc etc. There is no end to his list of skeletons in the closet

It's about tax returns, not about multiple bastards and a porn actress.

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

 

 

if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

 

president xi approves of this message.

 

 

Trump no doubt knows that if he did release his returns it would not quell the mob and they'd be saying he didn't release everything because there was nothing in the ones he did release to cause concern.

[Credo]

48 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Trump no doubt knows that if he did release his returns it would not quell the mob and they'd be saying he didn't release everything because there was nothing in the ones he did release to cause concern.

The taxes would not be 'released' to the public.   They would be released to the investigator.   No 'mob' is going to see them and even if they did leak something, it would probably be more confusing than helpful.   

 

[amexpat]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Trump no doubt knows that if he did release his returns it would not quell the mob and they'd be saying he didn't release everything because there was nothing in the ones he did release to cause concern.

You mean like Trump's obsession with Obama's birth certificate? 

 

No, it doesn't work that way. 

[amexpat]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He doesn't have to, no matter what the left want. End of.

 

The decision is one for justice, IMO.

End of what?  Your claim that your idol is above the law?