Confidential IRS attorney memo says IRS must turn over tax returns

Plasmaball · 2019-05-22T18:01:30.347Z

It’s literally not a fantasy

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:02:41.578Z

Congress has investigative powers. In fact, all they have been exercising that power all the way back to 1792.

It was asserted by the House of Representatives as early as 1792 when it appointed a committee to investigate the defeat of General St. Clair and his army by the Indians in the Northwest and empowered it to “call for such persons, papers, and records, as may be necessary to assist their inquiries.”

And guess what??? The courts have agreed with them that they have the power to investigate…any ■■■■■■■ thing they want. Including Fat ■■■■■■ Donnie.

“We are of the opinion,” wrote Justice Van Devanter for a unanimous Court, “that the power of inquiry—with process to enforce it—is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function"

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:03:46.019Z

You might want to read up:

Justia Law

Congressional Investigations

, of the US Constitution: Analysis and Interpretation

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:06:02.373Z

That’s a pretty thin branch… what legislative function is served with Trump’s returns prior to inauguration provide for the congress?

What executive action will be probed by obtaining them?

Those are questions for a court. The courts will decide.

FloridaYankee · 2019-05-22T18:08:48.115Z

LOL. They have a trial and the defendant is found guilty or innocent.

Not that if ■■■■■■■ matters, it is still a legitimate investigation with solid justification. If Trump committed serious tax crimes as Cohen testified, even the sycophantic senate majority would have no choice but to kick him out of office in the unlikely event such a trial ever be done before November 2020. The more likely event of course is a federal indictment waiting for him on Jan. 21, 2021 after voters kick his ass at the ballot box.

If republicans even let him run again…………….

mobiusptc · 2019-05-22T18:09:15.446Z

New argument seems to be that the branch of government empowered with the ability to remove and kick out the head of the other branch is somehow not allowed to investigate that same person…

Brilliant!

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:11:45.127Z

Congressman Neal has stated that he is requesting the returns to evaluate the effectiveness of the IRS’s policy of auditing the returns of sitting presidents.

Legislative purpose established.

Now, back to the law. Please show me where it is stated that a specific legislative function is even required:

Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation
Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretaryshall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return orreturn information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:14:08.017Z

Your fantasies not withstanding…

The house does not find anyone “guilty” of anything. What they do is akin to an indictment. The President would be tried in the Senate. Who’s mind would be changed about something as convoluted as tax law? They will charge he will defend. Impeaching a President for supposed tax violations that may or may not have occurred before he was even President is ludicrous. Can the Congress do it? Yes they can. It would be insanity on steroids, but they can.

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:16:46.374Z

LOL… because he said so? Once again, the courts will determine that. What purpose is there for requesting returns prior to his becoming President?

This is exactly why I said the courts may decide his returns post inauguration are fair game and those prior to it are not.

FloridaYankee · 2019-05-22T18:18:28.712Z

Ben_Natuf:

Your fantasies not withstanding…

The house does not find anyone “guilty” of anything. What they do is akin to an indictment. The President would be tried in the Senate. Who’s mind would be changed about something as convoluted as tax law? They will charge he will defend. Impeaching a President for supposed tax violations that may or may not have occurred before he was even President is ludicrous. Can the Congress do it? Yes they can. It would be insanity on steroids, but they can.

WHILE he was president.

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:19:40.108Z

Then why would they need the prior returns?

I’ve said already I believe the courts will grant access to his returns post inauguration.

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:20:07.906Z

By reviewing the returns from prior to Fat Donald becoming president, they can review the IRS’s audit actions post-election.

The law is crystal clear. Fat ■■■■■■ Donnie can try to evade them, but it won’t work. Just a stalling tactic, but then again it doesn’t really matter. New York state just passed a law making it legal for state tax returns to be turned over to the US House of Representatives. Most states require that you submit a copy of your federal return with your state return, so they should get a lot of what they are seeking.

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:21:57.992Z

In order to assess the effectiveness of the IRS’s presidential auditing policy, they should have prior years that Fat Donald also claims were audited.

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:22:02.212Z

That thin branch is turning into a thinner reed.

His tax returns before becoming President have absolutely zero bearing on the IRS practice of auditing a “sitting” President.

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:23:16.027Z

Fat Donald claims he is always audited. By reviewing the years he was audited prior to becoming president with how the IRS handled his returns post-election, they can assess the effectiveness of the IRS’s audits.

This is cut and dry. Clear as day. Crystal clear.

Ben_Natuf · 2019-05-22T18:23:34.408Z

A court will decide. Why are you so much opposed to letting the Constitution work? Last I checked even a President is entitled to due process.

Vali · 2019-05-22T18:25:43.034Z

The Constitution is clear and courts have backed the House on this many times - they have investigative powers. They also have the right to request the return of any filer. Clear as day.

Blows my mind that people are going to these lengths to protect a crooked, weak, and morally bankrupt man like Fat Donald.

DougBH · 2019-05-22T18:28:25.167Z

Imagine of the House of Representative spent all this effort on actually doing something constructive instead of still trying to overturn the results of the last Presidential election.

kingarthur65 · 2019-05-22T18:29:52.484Z

DougBH:

Imagine of the House of Representative spent all this effort on actually doing something constructive instead of still trying to overturn the results of the last Presidential election.

The House is passing bills, the Senate is the body that hasn’t done anything this session.

FloridaYankee · 2019-05-22T18:30:42.047Z

Ben_Natuf:

Then why would they need the prior returns?

I’ve said already I believe the courts will grant access to his returns post inauguration.

Quoting a relevant article;

Determining where the president gets his income and who he does business with is an urgent national security priority. Obtaining a clear picture of the President’s personal financial interests is critical for a wide range of policy areas where his exercise of power could be conflicted, including sanctions against Russia, trade with foreign countries including China, and the tax code.

New York Daily News – 9 May 19

Why Congress needs to see Trump’s taxes: The legislative purpose is compelling

Earlier this week, the New York Times published an extensive study of President Trump’s tax returns from 1985 to 1994, finding that “year after year, Mr. Trump appears to have lost more…