Supreme Court rules Trump not immune from New York grand jury process

[George II]

Source: MSNBC

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Thursday that President Donald Trump is not immune from a New York prosecutor's effort to get his tax returns — a defeat for the president, who fought hard to keep the details of his personal finances private.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance sought eight years' worth of Trump's business and personal tax records for an investigation of payments made to two women who claimed they had affairs with him — allegations the president has consistently denied. The court also is expected this morning to release its decision on whether congressional Democrats can obtain Trump’s financial records.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-new-york-prosecutor-can-get-trump-s-n1232086

[still_one]

1. I am pleasantly surprised by this

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Amy Howe: "Kavanaugh and Gorsuch concur. We still have a country."

Hat tip: https://www.scotusblog.com/

5 minutes ago
Kavanaugh concurs in the judgment, joined by Gorsuch. Thomas dissents, joined by Alito.

Amy Howe

Here is a link to the Vance opinion on SCOTUSblog as well: https://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/19-635_o7jq.pdf

Kalvis Golde

"Given these safeguards and the Court's precedents, we cannot conclude that absolute immunity is necessary or appropriate under Article II or the Supremacy Clause. Our dissenting colleagues agree," the chief writes.

Amy Howe

2 minutes ago
Kavanaugh and Gorsuch concur. We still have a country.

Amy Howe

[RVN VET71]

38. A victory, for sure

But it will take more than a SCOTUS decision to make me feel my country is safe and secure from the populist rantings of Trump and his friends and from the greed and willing kowtowing to Russia by the self-aggrandizing politicians of the GOP.

[Sanity Claws]

3. Yippee!

Go get him, Cyrus! Haul his fucking ass in for questioning.

[Yavin4]

4. Whew! Now I can walk down 5th avenue . n/t

[George II]

5. Stop outside trump tower and admire the BLM mural that is being painted at this moment!

[mtngirl47]

6. Happy News!!!! n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

7. WaPo just breaking now

Supreme Court says Manhattan prosecutor may see Trump’s personal financial records

ByRobert Barnes
July 9, 2020 at 10:14 a.m. EDT

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a New York prosecutor is entitled to see President Trump’s private and business financial records, ending an intense legal battle waged by the president to keep them secret.

The court said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. had the authority to subpoena the records from Trump’s private accounting firm. Trump had claimed an immunity from criminal investigations while in office.

Vance is investigating whether the Trump Organization falsified business records to conceal hush payments to two women, including pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed they had sex with Trump before he took office. Trump has denied those claims. Vance is seeking, Trump’s tax returns, among other records.

The president has refused to make them public, unlike previous modern presidents. Because the records are for a grand jury investigation, they would not likely be disclosed before the election.The court will rule later Thursday on subpoenas issues by congressional committees for a broader range of Trump’s financial records.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-trump-tax-returns-financial-records/2020/07/09/8f274352-c1e2-11ea-9fdd-b7ac6b051dc8_story.html

[George II]

12. Thanks. MSNBC just updated their report, similarly lacking details so far.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. CNN had a breaking with a little clarification and the 2nd ruling

regarding this particular ruling being a "middle ground" - i.e., President is not immune to a subpoena but Cyrus Vance, Jr. won't get to see the taxes just yet and another ruling was due out on a different case - which just issued -

Supreme Court blocks Congress from getting Trump financial records

From CNN's Ariane de Vogue

House subpoenas for President Trump’s financial documents will remain blocked the Supreme Court said, sending a controversial case back down to the lower court for further review. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the 7-2 opinion. Justices Thomas and Alito filed dissenting opinions. The President’s two nominees voted in the majority.

About the case: The case pitted the President's personal lawyers against House Democrats who say they need records from Trump's longtime accounting firm and two banks. During Supreme Court oral arguments in early May, Trump's attorneys argued that the House subpoenas were "unprecedented in every sense."

When a lawyer for the House argued in support of the subpoenas issued by three committees, several conservative justices zeroed in on whether the efforts by the Democratic-led house amounted to harassment of Trump. For his part, Chief Justice John Roberts asked the lawyer about the limits of congressional powers and suggested that the House needed to take into consideration the fact that the subpoenas involved, not at an ordinary litigant, but the President.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/supreme-court-trump-decision-07-09-20/h_dcc42d2ae52abcf78c57af5a3c656d9c

[George II]

26. They're all now equivocating, saying in both big decisions "for now"...

Both have to go back to the appeals court for clarification.

Still the decisions say that trump may have to release his tax returns and financial records.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. As you know, the biggy would be NY state's access

because none of that is pardonable.

[niyad]

39. So all the cheering is premature. SCOTUS screwed Congress., and us, again

[BumRushDaShow]

40. It seems that in this case, it's remanding back to the lower courts

but they did verify that NY has the right to subpoena the returns, which was a concern that such authority would be upended.

[niyad]

41. NY, but not Congress, yes?

[BumRushDaShow]

42. That's what it sounds like - but that is remanded back to the lower courts to clarify... However

in another LBN thread, it has been brought up that Congress might be able to get them quicker anyway by subpoena to NY (which I think was one of the things they had tried in addition to direct subpoena).

[niyad]

43. Thank you.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. You are welcome

In either case, there's nothing that will end up happening in time that could impact the election at this point - even the Impeachment seemed to have little effect, let alone everything else that has gone on the past 3 years.

(although the state of the economy might have a big impact come November)

[BigmanPigman]

48. I wish I had read your posts first...

I was happy for once. I should have known it was too good to last.

[H2O Man]

8. Recommended.

[jmowreader]

9. I wouldn't want to be on the White House staff this morning

You just know Trump is throwing shit around the room right now. “I didn’t put those two assholes on the Supreme Court for them to decide against me!”

[FarPoint]

21. Maybe they are hiding in the bathroom...

[Wuddles440]

10. Don't get too excited.....

because it's getting kicked back to the lower court and more stonewalling by Il Douche's counsel.

[cstanleytech]

11. One of the reasons why I predict Trump will flee the country on his last day in office

along with his children and if I had to guess it will be to Russia where he will be welcome with open arms by his friend Putin.

[rurallib]

23. Will Putin still be his friend if Trump no longer has what Putin wants?

That is Power in the US.

[cstanleytech]

30. Probably plus Trump could bring other things like classified material as part of a bargaining chip

because as President he has access to such information some of which I am sure Russia would love to have.

[rurallib]

31. true. Plus (IIRC) ex-presidents get to read the Presidential Daily Briefings (PDBs)

so he could just hand it to Vlad every day. Vlad will read it, for sure.

[cstanleytech]

34. I kinda doubt he would get any PDBs if he fled to Russia.

[Hoyt]

13. Unfortunately, Court also said a Prez can fight it. CNN guest "Legal defeat, but practical victory"

for trump in that he likely won't have to release tax returns before election.

Overall, the ruling is good.

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. His appointees voted against him, that's gonna make Trump fume

He f*cking put them on the Supreme Court. Who is he going to blame now?

[gademocrat7]

15. Very good news

[George II]

16. I think trump had advance knowledge of today's rulings, he tweeted these an hour ago:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[empedocles]

19. Congressional investigation worthy!

[sakabatou]

24. What a whiner

[Auggie]

17. I too am surprised

[Star-Thrower]

18. This just

made my day!

[rurallib]

20. Trump did not win, but he didn't exactly lose

Another Robert's Court sidestep.

We (voters) won't see any tax records before the election.

FUCK!

ETA - Both cases sent back down where Trump attorneys can string the case out forever.

[kozar]

35. do "we" need to see them?

Of course , we would all love to see the proof of what we already assume. But in the scheme of things, NY and prosecutors appear to have the right to see them. We will find out eventually, just not right away. I still take this as a win for America. Let's focus on GOTV, win it all back. And then sometime a couple years form now,when America is on way to America again, we can see the released Taxes and then we can have a "memory victory" and enjoy it even more.


Koz

[mahatmakanejeeves]

22. The Supreme Court says Trump is not immune from subpoena; NY prosecutor won't get tax returns yet.

The Supreme Court says Trump is not immune from subpoena, but NY prosecutor won't get tax returns yet. Details soon on second decision.

[Sgent]

27. I don't really understand

why they took the case in the first place. Precedent is clear dating back to US v Aaron Burr when he tried to subpoena Jefferson and was allowed to by Marshall.

[gab13by13]

28. Jeffrey Toobin

just said that the justices voted 9-0 that Trump did not have broader immunity than any other citizen.

[Bayard]

32. That's why I don't understand them ruling Congress can't have the records

When the law plainly states they can have ANYONE's records.

[malthaussen]

33. Ha Ha Ha

I think we will find that, while the Court is happy to prosecute the Conservative agenda, that is not identical with backing Mr Trump. He may learn this to his sorrow. The gratitude of lifetime appointees is notoriously short.

-- Mal

[ashredux]

36. What are the odds that Trump didn't lie on his taxes?

ZERO...he will be indicted ...for sure after he leaves office

[gab13by13]

37. Neal Katyal is the only expert,

and he is a good one, who is saying that the state case can happen before the election.

[George II]

46. I saw a couple of analysts this morning who said Vance can proceed as quickly as he wants.

[Chemisse]

45. Trump discovers that when you appoint a judge you don't actually OWN him.

The way Bunker Boy sees things, Beer Boy betrayed him!

[George II]

47. I wonder if Kavanaugh consulted with Squee for guidance?