3/14/2019

STEVE MNUCHIN/TREASURY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP TAXES: “Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, signaled on Thursday [3-14-19] that he would likely block a congressional request to obtain President Trump’s tax returns on privacy grounds, setting up a potential legal battle if Democrats follow through with plans to request those documents. During an occasionally testy hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Mnuchin was peppered with questions from Democrats about whether he believes Congress has the authority to access the tax returns of American citizens in general and the president in particular. Mr. Mnuchin told lawmakers that if a request were made he would consult the Treasury Department’s legal team and follow the law. But he indicated that taxpayer privacy, including that of the president, is paramount.”

Alan Rappeport and Nicholas Fandos, “Mnuchin Vows to Protect Trump’s Privacy if Tax Returns Sought,” The New York Times online, March 14, 2019