Supreme court decides: trump's tax returns remain secret

President Donald trump do not need his tax returns and other financial documents of first public. The Supreme Court has referred to two proceedings at the courts and at the same time, the principles laid down, such as the desire to examine to inspect the financial documents legally. For Trump, this is a part of success, because he can now keep his tax return at least until the election more a secret. At the same time, he has to fight but in a court, what he feels a first Tweet that as unfair and politically motivated.

Winand von Petersdorff-Campen

Economics correspondent in Washington.

In a dispute with the Prosecutor's office of Manhattan, the judge has not followed, in fact, Central arguments by trump's lawyers. They made it clear that the President occupies no special position, and thus the same insight into its finances, must give way as other citizens, when prosecutors claim good reasons. The decision was adopted by seven votes to two.

the insight Is reasonable?

the chances that the competent Grand Jury, which had requested the consultation of financial documents Trumps, gets this tax erklärungzu see rise. Condition a new court, but judgment may be challenged in case of doubt, prior to the Supreme Court. In addition, the Grand Jury remain submitted documents secret.

In the second procedure, the court honored three of the Democrats dominated committees of inquiry to the immediate insight into the financial documents of the President, and referred the case back to the courts. The have to answer several questions: Did the Congress committees will have alternative ways to obtain the desired information? The insight in the financial documents directly to a legislative purpose? And the inspection procedures can be expected of the President?

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trump's lawyers had argued in the oral hearing, the Request of congressional committees on inspection was politically motivated and not by the law projects legitimized. In fact, the right of the Congress to an independent investigation is legitimized only by the fact that the information obtained are important for the formulation of new laws.

Trumps business Bank, Deutsche Bank and his accountant Mazar are not forced to Trumps financial documents reveal. Both had previously made it clear to follow the judge's awards.