US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin refuses to release Donald Trump’s tax returns to Congress, setting stage for lengthy court battle
- Official says request for president’s documents ‘lacks legitimate legislative purpose’
- Democrats are also preparing to cite Attorney General William Barr with contempt over refusal to release full Mueller report
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday denied a senior House Democrat’s request for President Donald Trump’s tax returns, setting the stage for a lengthy court battle between lawmakers and the Trump administration.
In a May 6 letter, Mnuchin told House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal that he would not comply with the Democrat’s April 3 request.
“I have determined that the committee’s request lacks a legitimate legislative purpose … the department is therefore not authorised to disclose the requested returns and return information,” Mnuchin wrote.
Neal responded in a statement: “I will consult with counsel and determine the appropriate response.”
Mnuchin’s refusal rings congressional Democrats closer to fighting two legal battles – one over Trump’s tax returns and another over the full version of the Mueller report, a request for which administration officials have also stonewalled.