CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES A
LITTLE BIT LONGER.
>> SHANNON, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS.
LAWYERS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP NOW DEMANDING A FEDERAL
JUDGE BLOCK THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT FROM HANDING TRUMP’S
TAXES OVER TO A CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE.
LET’S BRING IN PETE WILLIAMS.
PETE, IT’S NOT A SURPRISE.
WE KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT
THIS.
BUT WHAT CAN YOU TELL US
SPECIFICALLY?
>> WELL, WHAT THEY SAY IS THAT
THERE’S NO LEGITIMATE PURPOSE
FOR CONGRESS TO HAVE THESE
RETURNS, THAT CONGRESS’ STATED
PURPOSE IS A PRETEXT.
THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
HAS SAID IT WANTS TO LOOK AT HOW
THE IRS AUDITS THE RETURNS OF
PRESIDENTS.
BUT LAWYERS SAY THEY HAVE ASKED
FOR HIS RETURNS, NOT ANY OTHER
PRESIDENT’S RETURNS, THEY DIDN’T
ASK THE IRS HOW IT AUDITS
PRESIDENTS, SO THAT’S JUST A
PRETEXT.
IT SAYS EVER SINCE DONALD TRUMP
WAS A CANDIDATE THE DEMOCRATS
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEIR
HANDS ON HIS TAX RETURNS AND
THAT DIDN’T DIMINISH AFTER HE
GOT ELECTED.
LET ME QUOTE YOU ONE LINE FROM
THE FILING.
IT SAYS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
SOUGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TAX
RETURNS AND RETURN INFORMATION
BECAUSE HIS PARTY RECENTLY
GAINED CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS AND IS THEIR
POLITICAL OPPONENT AND THEY WANT
TO USE THE INFORMATION TO DAMAGE
HIM POLITICALLY.
SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, THEY
SAY THE COURT SHOULD NOT HONOR
THIS REQUEST FROM THE COMMITTEE
ON WAYS AND MEANS.
AS YOU KNOW, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT MOST RECENTLY SAID
THAT THERE’S A FEDERAL STATUTE
THAT SAYS IF CONGRESS ASKED FOR
INDIVIDUAL RETURNS IT SHOULD GET
THEM AND THAT’S THE END OF THE
MATTER.
WHAT THE TRUMP LAWYERS SAY IS
THAT NEVER BEFORE HAS THAT
AUTHORITY BEEN USED TO GET THE
RETURNS OF ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL,
MUCH LESS ANY PRESIDENT OR
FORMER PRESIDENT.