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Since the 1970s, the Presidents of the United States have voluntarily submitted their tax returns to Richard Nixon. This ended when Donald Trump moved into the White House.
Trump refuses to file the tax returns, and after lengthy protests with Democrats in Congress, the case ended in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Trump’s advocates argue that presidents enjoy full legal immunity while in office, a point of view that not everyone shares.
Not above the law
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, considered a liberal, stressed Tuesday that no one, not even presidents, is above the law in the United States.
Neither President Richard Nixon nor President Bill Clinton were sued in the Supreme Court when they demanded immunity from prosecution, Nixon in connection with the Watergate scandal and Clinton when Paula Jones sued him for sexual harassment.
Trump supporters are accusing Democrats of conducting a politically motivated witch hunt for the president and that this weakens his ability to take office.
Breaking tradition
Two of the nine Supreme Court justices are chosen by Trump himself, while three are nominated by other Republican presidents. The other four are named by Democrats.
Judges agreed Tuesday that by refusing to release the tax return, Trump violated a long tradition.
“We never had to decide on this issue before, and that is because presidents and Congress came to an agreement,” Kagan said.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling in the case by the end of June.
