New York clears way for release of Trump's state tax returns
President Donald Trump's New York state tax returns could be given to Congress under a new law in his home state that the Democratic governor signed Monday. The measure signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo directs state tax officials to share state returns of certain elected and appointed officials upon written request from the chairpersons of one of three committees: House Ways and Means, Senate Finance or Joint Committee on Taxation.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 08:23 | 08 July 2019
- Modified Date: 08:23 | 08 July 2019
New York state on Monday cleared the way for U.S. congressional Democrats investigating President Donald Trump's finances to obtain his state tax returns, opening a new fight in Trump's squabbles with Democrats.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an amendment to a tax law that will require the commissioner of the Department of Taxation and Finance to share state income tax returns and reports when certain congressional committees request them.
"This bill gives Congress the ability to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities, strengthen our democratic system and ensure that no one is above the law," said Cuomo, a Democrat.
The law, effective immediately, opens a new avenue for the Democratic majority in Congress to investigate Trump's business affairs.
Trump's tax returns have been the object of scrutiny by Democrats in Congress since he took office. In May, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin denied the House Ways and Means committee's request that the Internal Revenue Service turn over six years' of Trump's federal tax returns, citing his belief that the committee did not have a legitimate legislative reason for the request.
The Committee sued Mnuchin and the Treasury Department last week to appeal Mnuchin's decision.