DEMS/LAWSUIT/NEW YORK/TRUMP TAXES: “A federal judge decided Thursday [7-25-19] that a different judge should handle President Donald Trump’s suit to prevent House Democrats from obtaining his New York state tax returns, delaying a decision on the president’s request for a restraining order against the Democrats. Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, rejected a bid by Trump lawyer William Consovoy to have McFadden hear both that case and a separate lawsuit by Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal seeking the president’s federal returns. At a hearing Thursday, Consovoy argued the cases are so similar that McFadden ought to handle both. But McFadden disagreed, noting one involved federal tax law and the other state law. What’s more, McFadden said, Democrats are plaintiffs in one case and defendants in the other, and that could have ramifications for their legal strategies in the cases…While the New York case will be reassigned to another judge, McFadden will still handle Neal’s lawsuit for Trump’s federal filings. Lawyers for Neal said they did not have an opinion on whether McFadden ought to take both cases.”
–Brian Faler, “Trump’s suit to block Democrats from getting his New York tax returns will be handed off to another judge,” Politico, July 25, 2019 6:15 pm