Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin consumed with efforts to hide Trump's tax returns

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin spends much of his time shielding President Donald Trump's tax returns from congressional review.

House Democrats have requested the returns under a 1924 law that gives the House Ways and Means Committee the authority to obtain tax returns from the Treasury Department for review in closed session, but Mnuchin is again expected on Monday to refuse, reported Bloomberg.

That would be Mnuchin's third attempt to shut down the committee's request for six years of the president's tax returns, and returns filed by the Trump Organization.

Mnuchin has said he plans to stay on the job through 2020, and he may spend the rest of his tenure fighting with Congress over the president's tax returns.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), the Ways and Means chairman, has complained that the focus on Trump's tax returns is distracting from more substantial legislation, but he still intends to press forward with the request.

Mnuchin has missed two previous deadlines, but he is expected to reject the request made April 3 after consulting with Justice Department lawyers.

A denial would almost certainly lead to Congress suing the executive branch, and could come as the Trump administration tries to stonewall other Democratic committee chairs.