The ex-president Donald Trump’s tax returns can now be made available to a congressional committee controlled by Democrats thanks to an order from the US Supreme Court.
In October, the justices denied Mr. Trump’s plea to overturn a lower court’s decision approving the panel’s request for his financial information.
The decision is a setback for Mr. Trump, who has long kept his tax returns confidential.
After declaring his first bid for president, Mr. Trump became the first president in 40 years to not reveal his taxes.
Since 2019, the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has requested access to his files.
Last Monday, Mr. Trump announced the start of his third presidential campaign. He is now under investigation for several business-related offenses. He claims he did nothing wrong.
No justice expressed dissent in the Supreme Court’s succinct response on Tuesday.
The ruling allows the US Treasury Department to send the Democratic-controlled committee Mr. Trump’s and some of his businesses’ tax returns from 2015 to 2018.
It occurs soon before the midterm elections this month when the Republicans will assume control of the House.
The Ways and Means Committee’s investigation of Mr. Trump’s taxes has been rejected as being politically motivated.
A judge on the court of appeals in Washington, DC, chosen by Trump said last year that the House had a good reason to scrutinize the forms.
The committee stated that to assess whether tax auditors were appropriately scrutinizing presidential candidates and whether any new legislation was required, it was imperative to see Mr. Trump’s records.
They had contended before the lower court that Mr. Trump’s defiance prevented Congress from performing oversight of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
