Donald Trump fought fiercely to block Congress’ request. The Supreme Court of the United States authorized, Tuesday, November 22, the transfer of Donald Trump’s tax returns to Congress, rejecting a final appeal by the former Republican president.
A committee of the House of Representatives, in the hands of the Democrats until January, has been demanding for three years the documents transmitted to the tax authorities by the billionaire between 2015 and 2020. But, unlike all the tenants of the White House since the 1970s, Donald Trump has always refused to publish his tax returns.
After many episodes, a federal court of appeal had authorized the tax authorities at the end of October to transmit these documents to the House committee. The real estate magnate then sent an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States to block this transfer. This had suspended the 1er November the transmission of the documents while waiting to have the elements to decide on the merits.
Several setbacks
After receiving arguments from both parties, she finally rejected Donald Trump’s request on Tuesday. In accordance with its practices, it did not explain its motivations. Although it has been profoundly overhauled by the former president, the High Court has inflicted several setbacks on the matter and in particular authorized in 2020 the transfer of financial documents to the New York justice which is investigating his affairs.
The lack of transparency of Donald Trump, who has made his wealth a campaign argument, has fueled speculation for years about the extent of his fortune or potential conflicts of interest. However, it is not certain that the transfer of his tax archives to Congress will lift the veil on the affairs of the septuagenarian who has just announced his candidacy for the presidency of 2024.
The commission, which called for Donald Trump’s tax returns to develop ethical rules for presidents’ affairs, is not supposed to make them public. In January, the Republicans will regain control of it and will probably abandon this work.