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Donald Trump Ordered To Hand Over Tax Returns To Prosecutors

Donald Trump Ordered To Hand Over Tax Returns To Prosecutors

A Manhattan prosecutor will now be able to look at the business dealings to investigate claims of tax, insurance and bank fraud.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The Supreme Court has ruled it will not stand in the way of a prosecutor wanting to look at Donald Trump's tax returns.

Trump has been under pressure to release his financial statements ever since he announced his bid to become President.

The former leader has always withheld them and the New York Times published a section of his business dealings just before the 2020 US Election.

But in a massive blow to Trump's quest for secrecy, the Supreme Court has ordered him to give a New York prosecutor the tax returns to help in their criminal investigation.

Trump was naturally furious at the decision and called the court's move a continuation of the 'witch hunt' against him.

PA

"It is all Democrat-inspired in a totally Democrat location, New York City and State," the former president said.

"These are attacks by Democrats willing to do anything to stop the almost 75 million people - the most votes, by far, ever gotten by a sitting president - who voted for me in the election, an election which many people, and experts, feel that I won. I agree!"

Trump did not win the election.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Junior will now be able to look into allegations of hush money payments being made to Trump associates.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the criminal probe is fairly broad and will also be looking at claims of tax, insurance and bank fraud at Trump's hotel and casino business empire.

After news of the Supreme Court's decision was handed down, the prosecutor wrote simply: "The work continues."

PA

He has been on the hunt for the tax returns since 2019 and the ABC reports the case could go before a grand jury to see whether Trump could be indicted on charges now that he's no longer a sitting president.

Trump's statement after the decision added: "The Supreme Court never should have let this 'fishing expedition' happen, but they did.

"The new phenomenon of 'headhunting' prosecutors and AGs - who try to take down their political opponents using the law as a weapon - is a threat to the very foundation of our liberty.

"That's what is done in third world countries."

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, believes this investigation could be incredibly damaging to the former president.

In a statement, Cohen said: "The Supreme Court has now proclaimed that no one is above the law. Trump will, for the first time, have to take responsibility for his own dirty deeds."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump