Trump's banks won't tell court if they have his tax returns

[crazytown]

Source: CNN

New York (CNN) Lawyers for Deutsche Bank and Capital One repeatedly refused Friday to tell an appellate court in New York whether the banks are in possession of President Donald Trump's tax returns, citing "contractual obligations" not to disclose the information and drawing the ire of a panel of judges.

The three-judge panel was so frustrated by the lawyers' refusal to answer that at one point one of the judges suggested the appellate court might seek an order for the information.

After several minutes of argument on the subject, the panel directed the lawyers to file letters under seal within 48 hours saying whether the banks have Trump's tax returns. But while the banks' lawyers indicated they would respond in writing, it wasn't clear that they agreed to provide that information.

The dispute came during oral arguments in Trump's appeal of a lower court ruling that rejected Trump's attempt to block Democratic lawmakers from accessing his financial records through subpoenas of those banks.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/23/politics/trump-tax-return-hearing/index.html

[Firestorm49]

1. His paranoia is astounding. I wonder if our Republican friends smell the stink yet?

I guess we're the only ones who think that he may be trying to hide something. Hmmmmm!

[TeamPooka]

2. Jail the lawyers, their CEO's and Fine them for contempt of court until they state it.

[SunSeeker]

5. Exactly. It is outrageous that they wouldn't answer a judge's question. WTF

[TeamPooka]

6. If a judge asks you something they don't need a court order for an answer. They are the court order

asking.

[24601]

18. The Appeals Court did not order the bank to confirm they had them or to produce them. Their oral

argument was that confirming whether they had the returns would violate their fiduciary responsibility to their client. That's one of the points being adjudicated. It was discussed that the court might ask for the answer under seal.

Several exchanges during the argument focused the counsel for the House of Representatives acknowledging that once the returns were provided to congressional committees, there was no expectation they would not be released publicly. My sense of the oral argument was that the court was skeptical that the real purpose was to enact legislation, or that the returns were even needed to legislate. If the judges infer that legislating is a subterfuge and that the real purpose is to release politically-damaging information before the 2020 election, they likely will not rule in favor of the House.

[lagomorph777]

3. So...that's a "yes" then.

Subpoena time.

[MBS]

15. + 1000 n/t

[bucolic_frolic]

4. I'm watching

the source of those DeutscheBank funds. Could be historical, could be oligarchs, or something else.

[TomSlick]

7. This will not end well.

Federal judges are not accustomed to being told no.

[riversedge]

14. I am hoping it will not end well for trumpy!!

[MBS]

16. Agreed. nt/

[TheBlackAdder]

8. What's the bet that Trump's IRS Tax Returns do not match the ones given to the banks?

[machoneman]

19. 100% sure they don't! He lies on every single matter, especially when money is involved.

Liar in Chief!

[Hotler]

9. Wasn't Deutsche Bank listed in the Panama Papers for money laundering...hhmmmm. nt

[Hotler]

10. Where is shit stain getting his money for lawyers'? The guy has to be leveraged up to..

the eyeballs. As people have noted on DU before, he's one big ponzi scheme.

[choie]

11. I just don't understand what's going on...

is every goddamn person or entity cowed by this fucking piece of shit? How the hell does he get away with intimidating people into flouting the law?

[Progressive Jones]

13. They're all part of the same crime organization. nt

[MBS]

17. My daily question, too. n/t

[Corgigal]

12. Lock them out,

until they want to abide by U.S. laws.

[hughee99]

20. Why are Democratic lawmakers trying to get his tax records from private banks when

There’s a government agency that definitely has his tax records?