WaPo: "House Democrats must now decide how forcefully to respond" to Mnuchin

[Miles Archer]

In a 10-page letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), Mnuchin said the Democrats’ request for Trump’s tax returns raised constitutional and privacy issues that needed to first be resolved by the Justice Department before he could make a decision on how to proceed.

The letter repeatedly cast doubt on the motivations of Democrats in seeking the tax return information. Mnuchin served as Trump’s finance chairman during the 2016 presidential campaign and Trump has already signaled he does not want the information released, but multiple legal scholars have said they don’t see much precedent for Mnuchin to ignore the congressional inquiry.

Neal has twice formally requested the tax returns from Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig, and the latest deadline was Tuesday at 5 p.m. Mnuchin has responded to both requests with a letter of his own, saying more time was needed while also casting doubt as to why Democrats are seeking the records in the first place.

House Democrats must now decide how forcefully to respond. They could wait until May 6, or move more aggressively and subpoena the records under a 1924 law that appears to give them access to virtually any tax return. A number of House Democrats have accused the White House of stalling and implored their colleagues to ratchet up pressure.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/treasury-likely-to-defy-tuesday-deadline-to-turn-over-trump-tax-returns/2019/04/23/daa7da46-653e-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html

[Firestorm49]

1. Fight, damn it.

[malaise]

2. Lock him up

Please. The Con will ditch him and go after his wife.

[fightforjustice9]

3. K&R

[gratuitous]

4. How about the House Committee?

There's no discretion here for the Treasury Secretary; it doesn't matter why the Committee (not just the Democrats) made the request, the statute is unequivocal on the IRS's obligation to turn over the requested returns. The Committee doesn't need a legislative reason and the law doesn't just "appear to give" the committee authorization, it clearly does give three specific congressional committees (one joint committee, one Senate committee, and one House committee) that power. Mnuchin is stalling, abusing his authority, and obstructing the committee.

[DFW]

5. I'd declare Mnuchin in Contempt of Congress

And send federal marshals to round him up until he produces what was subpoenaed. And then, I’d say that Mnuchin can’t be released until an audit is completed—an audit that will take exactly as long as the « audit » that Trump claims prevented him from releasing them so far.

[NCjack]

6. Why a long letter? Just send Mnuc a short note.

Dear Mnuc,

I am ready to pursue you for the rest of my life, for the purpose of sending you to prison and collecting all fines that are due.

Chairman Neal.

[shanny]

7. contempt of congress: put him in jail

"shall"