Trump files appeal to block House committee’s subpoena for his financial records News
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Trump files appeal to block House committee’s subpoena for his financial records

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Monday seeking to overturn a recent ruling allowing the House Oversight Committee to subpoena the president’s financial records.

The brief outlined how the subpoena of his finances dating back to before his campaign and term as president was a violation of his privacy and exceeded the scope of Congress’ authority. In addition, Trump’s legal team argued that there was not a true legislative purpose for Congress to investigate these records and suggested that the lower court’s ruling inappropriately made the case about impeachment. To allow for Congress to subpoena the president’s finances, they assert, is “an effort to investigate alleged legal violations—power that is vested in the Executive, not Congress,” and would open the floodgates for Congress to investigate anything in detail.

House Democrats have defended that the subpoena is needed to monitor the president’s compliance with the emoluments clause and any foreign entanglement.

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