Unsurprisingly, the same president who insists that he’s running “the most transparent administration in history” is fighting desperately to keep his past (and present) a secret. The courts do not seem to be amenable to helping him in that regard.
BREAKING: Trump attorneys appeal ruling ordering accounting firm to hand over records to Congress https://t.co/7IBkYFIldR pic.twitter.com/tjimGxXcAh
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 21, 2019
In blatant moves to circumvent the Constitutional mandate requiring congressional oversight of the executive branch, Trump has ignored subpoenas and demanded that people in his administration refuse to comply with orders. On Tuesday, Trump’s former White House attorney Don McGahn, who once threatened to quit because Trump was asking him to “do crazy sh*t,” failed to appear in front of Congress despite a subpoena after the White House ordered him not to appear.
On Monday, a judge ruled against Trump in his efforts to conceal his financial records. Less than 24 hours later, Trump’s attorneys are appealing the ruling.
CNN reports that:
‘President Donald Trump’s attorneys are appealing a ruling by a federal judge ordering an accounting firm to turn over his financial records from before he was President to the Democratic-controlled House Oversight Committee.
Okay, I’ve got the skinny on the “seven day” thing. The stay is denied and Mazar’s has seven days to comply with the subpoena. Trump will appeal, but without the stay, Mazar’s can’t hold back the stuff. It’s also unlikely a higher court will hear the case. Yay! pic.twitter.com/217gSjENRv
— Mueller, She Wrote Podcast (@MuellerSheWrote) May 21, 2019
A federal judge named Merrick Garland, once Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, will choose whether to hear or dismiss the appeal. As of today, the firm subpoenaed for documents has just six days to comply.
‘The President’s attorneys have filed the notice of appeal Tuesday, less than a day after losing their case against the subpoena in DC District Court.’
In an ironic twist, President Donald Trump’s appeal to shield his financial records from congressional subpoenas goes to a court headed by Judge Merrick Garland. pic.twitter.com/00gvQllPXc
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) May 21, 2019
Trump, of course, is pushing back against the lower court’s ruling. He’s not arguing the merits of the decision, most likely because he doesn’t understand what the merits are, anyway. Instead, he’s going with the argument that the ruling is unfair because the judge in the case was appointed by President Obama. That’s unlikely to hold up in court.
POLITICO reports that:
‘Speaking with reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump called Mehta’s ruling “ridiculous” and “totally wrong.” He also noted that Mehta was appointed by President Barack Obama.’
JUST NOW: District Judge sides with House Oversight and Reform Committee in President Donald Trump's lawsuit to stop a congressional subpoena to accounting firm Mazars USA for his financial records. As expected, Trump expected to appeal. pic.twitter.com/6UlX5qhGYD
— Todd Ruger (@ToddRuger) May 20, 2019
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
