Justice Elena Kagan suggested that the president’s position was asking the court to put a “10-ton weight on the scales” between Congress and the president, and to “make it impossible for Congress to conduct oversight.”
Justice Neil Gorsuch — a Trump appointee — asked Trump attorney Patrick Strawbridge to explain why the House’s subpoenas were not “supported by a substantial legislative need.” In essence, was Congress allowed to seek some records from some president, but just not in this case?
Chief Justice asked Douglas Letter — counsel for the House — about the limits of Congress’s power to seek information about the president. Letter had proposed that the power extends to any purpose on which legislation might be written.
Roberts rejected that as too broad.
Roberts rejected that as too broad.
Here we go
“Your test is not really much of a test. It’s not really a limit,” Roberts said, since legislation could be written about essentially anything. “Do you have any alternative to that limitless test?"
“Your test is not really much of a test. It’s not really a limit,” Roberts said, since legislation could be written about essentially anything. “Do you have any alternative to that limitless test?"
Letter said that an alt might be that Congress’s power to inv the president should be curbed when it interferes with president’s ability to carry out his constitutional duties.
The House’s requests in this case — many of which are aimed at third parties, requiring no action by
The House’s requests in this case — many of which are aimed at third parties, requiring no action by
Trump himself — would be allowed under that standard.
The Justice Department urged the court to invalidate the House subpoenas for Trump’s records, saying lawmakers’ real purpose was to “expose wrongdoing” — not to craft legislation.
The Justice Department urged the court to invalidate the House subpoenas for Trump’s records, saying lawmakers’ real purpose was to “expose wrongdoing” — not to craft legislation.
The legislation is to make sure ALL President's and candidates show their tax returns and financial records to stave off the corruption and conflict of interest that we are seeing now.
In an exchange with Gorsuch, Strawbridge said Congress was not considering any specific piece of legislation that related to these questions. Without a specific bill under consideration, he said, Congress should not be allowed to investigate Trump as a kind of case study.
House counsel Letter was asked by Justice Elena Kagan about the argument put forth by Trump’s lawyers that a subpoena could impair a president in carrying out the duties of the presidency.
Letter said there is a long history of presidents, including George Washington, Andrew
Letter said there is a long history of presidents, including George Washington, Andrew
Jackson and James Buchanan, responding to requests for information from Congress, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes involuntarily.
Are we seeing the decision here?
Justice Samuel A. Alito expressed concern about what he called the lack of limits on the House’s subpoena powers that could be used to harass the president.
Justice Samuel A. Alito expressed concern about what he called the lack of limits on the House’s subpoena powers that could be used to harass the president.
Justice Samuel Alito asked the DA's counsel about the risk that Trump’s tax and financial records could be leaked to media outlets. “We both know there are prosecutors who leak all sorts of information,” including grand jury material, “specifically to the @nytimes ” Alito said.😳
Carey R. Dunne, general counsel for New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., told the court that presidents are not shielded from having to provide evidence in criminal investigations and have “responsibilities like every other citizen.”
“No one should forget that we’ve got an investigation that is looking at the conduct of other people and businesses [beyond Trump], and waiting would benefit those other participants. They could all end up above the law” if statutes of limitation expire during the delay, Dunne
This is also about a suit in NY
Dunne noted that no one has been targeted or charged and that his office’s investigation is not connected to "President" Trump. The DA is probing possible violations of state law and “our office would have been remiss not to follow up.”
Dunne noted that no one has been targeted or charged and that his office’s investigation is not connected to "President" Trump. The DA is probing possible violations of state law and “our office would have been remiss not to follow up.”
