News

Andrew Cuomo Signs Bill Allowing Congress To Get Trump’s New York State Tax Returns

On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill that could permit Congress to secure President Donald Trump‘s state tax returns.

The development comes after multiple attempts from House Democrats to obtain Trump’s federal taxes.

New York’s latest legislation adds yet another exception to the law that state tax returns should stay private — the one already in place being law enforcement members’ state taxes — by dictating that the state’s Commissioner of the Department of Taxation and Finance must hand in information requested by the head of the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, or Joint Committee on Taxation.

“Tax secrecy is paramount — the exception being for bonafide investigative and law enforcement purposes,” Cuomo said in a statement. “By amending the law enforcement exception in New York State tax code to include Congressional tax-related committees, this bill gives Congress the ability to fulfill its Constitutional responsibilities, strengthen our democratic system and ensure that no one is above the law.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020

In response, Jay Sekulow — a member of Trump’s legal team — called the move another example of “presidential harassment.”

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has repeatedly rebuffed lawmakers’ requests for Trump’s taxes, saying Congress has not given a “legitimate” reason to justify receiving them.

Given that New York is home to Trump Tower, the headquarters of the Trump Organization, House Democrats would likely gain valuable information from just the president’s state tax returns.

Cuomo emphasized he would have only backed a bill that clearly stated anybody — and not simply Trump — would have to comply with requests for state taxes from congressional committees. Nevertheless, many conservative critics said they viewed this move as specifically carried out to go after the president.

Trump has repeatedly used the fact that he is under audit from the Internal Revenue Service as an excuse for not releasing his federal taxes, although the IRS has said an audit does not prohibit any such disclosure.

 

Pablo Mena

Writer for upolitics.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

After Trump Is Caught Thanking Chief Justice Roberts, President Attacks ‘Sleazebag’ Critics Who Said It Was For Immunity Decision

President Donald Trump addressed speculation about his comments to Chief Justice John Roberts after he…

13 hours ago

VIDEO: Musk Attends Pentagon Meeting After Report He Would Be Briefed Top-Secret War Plan For China, Raising Ethics Concerns

https://youtu.be/w9WkLlHhn_w Elon Musk visited Department of Defense officials at the Pentagon on Friday. Leaked information…

15 hours ago

Trump Administration Set To Scrap Guantánamo Immigrant Detention Plan After Cost Spirals To $249,000 Per Inmate

In late January, President Donald Trump announced a plan that would detain tens of thousands…

17 hours ago

Conservative Podcaster Ben Shapiro Calls On Trump To Pardon Derek Chauvin, Police Officer Convicted Of Killing George Floyd

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called on President Donald Trump to pardon ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek…

19 hours ago

Trump’s Vow For Retribution At Justice Department Alarms Ethics Experts

In a campaign-style speech at the Department of Justice on Friday, President Donald Trump outlined his vision…

2 days ago

VIDEO: Trump Signs Executive Order Calling For Elimination Of Department Of Education Surrounded By School Kids At Desks

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aWpTcpG89L4 President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education…

2 days ago