Oh man. Looks like Steve Mnuchin has picked a hill to die upon. Note he NEVER mentions that he is ignoring a subpoena, he says this is just “response to your letter”!!!!
May 17, 2019
Dear Chairman Neal:
I write in further response to your letter of April 3, 2019, requesting the confidential tax returns (and other return information) of President Trump and related business entities for 2013 through
2018, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6103(f).
As you have recognized, the Committee's request is unprecedented, and it presents serious constitutional questions, the resolution of which may have lasting consequences for all taxpayers. Accordingly, the Department of the Treasury has consulted with the Department of Justice concerning the lawfulness of your request. As explained in my April 23 letter, the Committee's statutory authority under section 6103(f) is bounded by Congress's authority under the Constitution, and the Supreme Court has held that the Constitution requires that Congressional information demands must reasonably serve a legitimate legislative purpose.
In reliance on the advice of the Department of Justice, I have determined that the Committee's request lacks a legitimate legislative purpose, and pursuant to section 6103, the Department is therefore not authorized to disclose the requested returns and return information.
The Department of Justice has informed us that it intends to memorialize its advice in a published legal opinion as soon as practicable. Out of respect for the deadlines previously set by the Committee, and consistent with our commitment to a prompt response. I am informing you now that the Department may not lawfully fulfill the Committee's request.
Although the Department is unable to provide you with the requested confidential tax returns and return information, we renew our previous offer to provide information concerning the Committee's stated interest in how the IRS conducts mandatory examinations of Presidents, as provided by the Internal Revenue Manual. If the Committee is interested, we remain committed to providing such an accommodation.
Sincerely,
Steven T. Mnuchin
cc: The Honorable Kevin Brady, Ranking Member
and of course we say good! Let the everlovin’ motherlovin’ games begin!!!
Not much to diary about but the reactions are pouring in and will assemble here for entertainment. But man what a shitstorm we are in for.
First up is David Corn who just about every day since the inauguration (including this morning) has tweeted:
And now he’s put a new twist on it:
Conservative defense expert and Never-Trumper Max boot was a little more blunt:
Olga Lautman a little more practical:
as always, nycsouthpaw notes the thick irony:
some humor from Walter Shaub:
and here’s a good capper for now:
OK, that’s it for now. But I’ll be here for this and Rich Neal again later tonight.
UPDATE: Now trending on Twitter: #ArrestMnuchin