Democrats are currently favored to win control of the House of Representatives -- and they are pledging to go right after President Donald Trump's tax returns if they do.
The controversy surrounding Trump's tax returns, which he has steadfastly refused to release ever since he announced his presidential run in 2015, was rekindled this week after a bombshell New York Times report claimed that the Trump family had engaged in fraudulent activities aimed at concealing the size of their fortune, and Democrats are certain to do further investigations into Trump's finances should they take back the House.
And as the Wall Street Journal's Richard Rubin reports, Trump is going to be absolutely powerless to stop them.
"Under the tax code, the Ways and Means chairman can demand and receive any taxpayer’s records from the IRS for confidential review," he writes. "[Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), who would chair the House Ways and Means Committee if Democrats take control of Congress] wouldn’t need approval from the full House, the Senate or the administration. Prosecutors, including special counsel Robert Mueller, can also get tax returns from the IRS."
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), however, warned that Democrats would be making a mistake to subpoena Trump's taxes should they take back Congress.
"Most people don’t care about the president’s tax returns," he told the Journal. "They care about their own."
Nonetheless, he did not dispute that Trump would not have any serious options to block the Democrats from obtaining his taxes should they request them.
