Supreme Court orders Trump financial records released to NY prosecutors
In a 7-2 ruling, the court said the president does not have absolute immunity from criminal investigation.
WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that President Donald Trump must hand over financial records to prosecutors in New York.
In a 7-2 ruling, the court said the president does not have absolute immunity from criminal investigation.
The nation's highest court also issued a ruling in a separate case concerning a request by Democratic-led congressional committees for Trump's tax returns and financial records.
In a 7-2 ruling and a partial victory for Trump, the court sent the congressional case back to a lower court for further consideration.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, has asked for eight years of the president's financial records in connection with an alleged "hush money" payment made to porn actress and former Playboy model Stormy Daniels.
Trump's attorneys had claimed the president was immune from criminal investigation - a claim rejected by the court.
"Two hundred years ago, a great jurist of our Court established that no citizen, not even the President, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding," the court said. "We reaffirm that principle today."
Vance called the ruling "a tremendous victory for our nation's system of justice and its founding principle that no one – not even a president – is above the law.
"Our investigation, which was delayed for almost a year by this lawsuit, will resume, guided as always by the grand jury’s solemn obligation to follow the law and the facts, wherever they may lead," Vance said.
In response, Trump said Thursday he was the victim of "political prosecution".
"This is all a political prosecution," Trump tweeted.
"I won the Mueller Witch Hunt, and others, and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration!"
The Supreme Court sends case back to Lower Court, arguments to continue. This is all a political prosecution. I won the Mueller Witch Hunt, and others, and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
We have a totally corrupt previous Administration, including a President and Vice President who spied on my campaign, AND GOT CAIGHT...and nothing happens to them. This crime was taking place even before my election, everyone knows it, and yet all are frozen stiff with fear....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020