Thread by @TimOBrien

Congress is getting Trump's tax returns: justice.gov/olc/file/14191…

"There is ample basis to conclude that its June 2021 Request for former President Trump’s tax information would further the Committee’s principal stated objective of assessing the IRS’s presidential audit program—a plainly legitimate area for congressional inquiry."

"The Chairman’s additional stated objectives for reviewing that tax information are also legitimate, and the Committee has authority to seek the records for those reasons as well."

"Even if some individual members of Congress hope to see information from the former President’s tax returns disclosed on the public record merely 'for the sake of exposure,' that would not invalidate the legitimate objectives."

"The Executive Branch should conclude that the request lacks a legitimate legislative objective only in exceptional circumstances."

"Congress’s authority to investigate 'is inherent in the legislative process.'"

"Even if this case involved only a congressional subpoena, the Executive would be required to treat the Committee’s stated rationale with deference and a presumption of good faith and regularity."

"All the more reason exists to do so here, because the Committee is requesting information pursuant to statutory authority."

"The Court in Mazars reaffirmed the breadth and importance of Congress’s investigatory authority in the mine run of cases."

"Even if separation of powers considerations continue to inform analysis of the June 2021 Request, such considerations would be much less pro- nounced after a President leaves office and returns to life as a private citizen."

"This is especially true where, as here, the request does not seek disclosure of privileged presidential communications or seek to impose costs on the President for acts taken in his official capacity."

AND THIS. 🔥🔥🔥

"We conclude that the Secretary must comply with the Ways and Means Committee’s June 16, 2021 request pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6103(f)(1) to furnish the Committee with the specified tax returns and related tax information."