The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that New York state prosecutors may access President Trump’s tax returns.
The court voted seven to two against Trump, ruling that a Manhattan district attorney may obtain access to the president’s tax returns as part of a criminal investigation that involves hush-money payments to two women who claim to have had affairs with Trump. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, both appointed by Trump, voted with the majority.
Trump's legal team and the Justice Department argued that the president is immune from investigation while he is in office.
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. issued a subpoena to Trump's accounting firm, Mazars USA, for eight years worth of the president’s financial documents, including both his personal and corporate tax returns. The accounting firm has said it will comply with the order.
In 2016, Trump attracted harsh criticism when he became the first president in decades who declined to publicly release his tax returns during the campaign season, saying he was under audit by the IRS.
In a separate but connected case, the Court ruled 7-2 to require further proceedings on congressional efforts to access Trump’s tax returns.
