Lawyers Ask Judge To Keep Trump Tax Records Off-Limits

Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers requested a federal judge to prevent the release of the controversial Trump tax records.

They want the courts to block the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service from giving Congress a copy of his tax returns. The lawyers called the Trump tax records the Democrats’ “white whale.”

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Don’t Release The Trump Tax Records

In asking to block the release of Trump tax records, lawyers pointed to the request of House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA).

Neal purportedly wanted the returns to examine how the IRS audits American presidents. However, the real reason is simply to look for something that can cause embarrassment for the former president. 

Neal’s House committee sued the Treasury Department during the Trump administration. Once President Joe Biden assumed the office, the department changed its stance.

It agreed to provide Trump’s tax returns. This prompted the committee to withdraw the lawsuit. However, Trump and his lawyers sought to block its release again. 

Why Do Democrats Want Trump Tax Records Out in the Open

The former president’s lawyers remain adamant that Democrats just want to find something they can throw against their client. “No one believes that Chairman Neal requested President Trump's tax returns so he can study legislation about IRS audits. No one.

Chairman Neal admits that this justification was a mere litigation strategy. His fellow Committee-Members don't buy it either,” they said.

But why do Democrats even care what’s inside the Trump tax records? The lawyers believed it’s an offshoot of Trump's refusal to voluntarily disclose his tax returns, which is nothing wrong.

“Anyone who's paid even minimal attention to American politics understands what's happening here: President Trump did not voluntarily disclose his tax returns during the campaign, his political opponents assume the information would damage him, and so his opponents want to force the disclosure.”

IRS Audits Tax Returns of Presidents

Meanwhile, the IRS maintains a longstanding policy requiring audits of a president's tax returns. This allows them to relieve employees on deciding if the President’s taxes require further reviews.

In requesting a copy of the tax records, the Ways and Means Committee wanted to know if the IRS can do the job completely.

The panel wanted to know  “whether the IRS had the resources and safeguards to audit the returns of Mr. Trump and similar future presidents effectively.”

In addition, the House panel also wants to know if audits can be performed independently. Can the IRS perform an audit without receiving improper or implied attempts to influence the results? 

To get the courts to release Trump’s tax returns, the House Ways and Means panel invoked a federal law. This requires the Treasury Department to turn over a requested tax return when demanded by any of the three congressional tax code-writing committees.

However, Trump’s lawyers remain adamant that these reasons are not nearly enough to release the records. 

Watch the NBC News video reporting that Former President Donald Trump asks judge to block IRS from handing tax returns to congress:

Do you support the idea to block the release of the Trump tax records? Do you think that the House will eventually get the records released? What happens after?

Let us know what you think about the battle for keeping the Trump tax records confidential. Share your comments in the comments section below.