President Trump and his 2020 reelection campaign filed a lawsuit on Tuesday asking a federal judge to block a California law requiring presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns.
Wait a minute – I thought Republicans were all about “States’ Rights” when it came to Federal elections? Isn’t that the talking point when it comes to why the Federal Government shouldn’t be securing our Presidential election against Russian interference?
Sued the whole state, did he?
That’s a lot of depositions.
Need any more proof that this Orange Shitstain is dirty?
IOKIYAR.
It’s Okay If You Are Republican.
Irony isn’t dead; it’s just drunk and laughing its ass off.
I’d hate to think there were valid Constitutional claims in the lawsuit.
For me this is a win-win. If CA prevails, Mazel Tov! If they don’t, nothing has changed except Trump’s accumulating legal fees will eat up yet more money that would otherwise be used on his presidential campaign (coz he ain’t payin’ for this shit.).
It’s a good thing he doesn’t have a job with any responsibilities that keeps him too busy for this sort of bullshit. Sigh…
Trump is filing lawsuits against Congress, States, state officers, and private citizens all over the place. Just out of curiosity, who is paying his legal fees?
He sure is defensive about those tax returns he said three years ago that he would release. Why the backtracking, Bluto?
IANAL, so please clarify if I’m far afield.
This is about ballot access, not running for president. States have requirements for indie candidates to appear on the ballot, for example.
His presidential campaign organization, most likely.
How does DT have personal standing? I know the returns are his personally, but it’s the candidacy that is being affected so I would think only the actual campaign has standing.
ETA: I just noticed that the story says he and the campaign are suing, but apparently only his personal lawyer is involved. Not sure how all that works, but that may be the point.
Oh yeah, isn’t that why the Office of Legal Counsel opined years ago that I “president” could not be indicted?
I haven’t read the lawsuit, but Trump’s problem is that the Constitution does dictate the qualifications to serve as President. But each state can decide how its electoral votes are decided. The state doesn’t even have to have an election. Indeed, I vaguely recall a voting booth in Missouri where the names of the electors were listed - and you voted for the actual electoral. The booth did show who the elector was pledge to support. So, California can do whatever it wants with respect to how its electors are chosen and how the elections are held, including the makeup of the ballot. Trump can simply choose to not have his name on the California ballot. He’s going to lose the state anyway.
EXCELLENT!
Now, lets move DIRECTLY to the DISCOVERY phase of this lawsuit.
What’s that Cheatolini? You OPPOSE DISCOVERY by the State of California? Well, you CAN’T.
In a huff, this lawsuit will be dropped if the SCOTUS doesn’t accept it right away to rule 5-4 against the State setting it’s own rules for a STATE PRIMARY, note that is NOT A FEDERAL OFFICE ELECTION.
We’ve Seen Trump’s Tax Returns and They Are 110% Legit
NYT’s Headline Writer
Trump alleged in the complaint that the California law requiring disclosure of five years of the tax returns of presidential candidates before they can appear on the state primary ballot “adds an unconstitutional qualification to the fixed set of qualifications for the presidency in the Constitution.”
Umm…United States Constitution, Article II, Section 1:
“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress…”
Nice try, but the California law has nothing to do with “qualifications for the presidency”.
It has to do with appointing electors from the State of California.
(Which, in this case, is per popular vote.)
This is exactly how he has done business for the last 40 years.
Anyone who opposes him, he sues (or threatens to sue.)
That is why he has been involved in over 3400 lawsuits over the years, and 5 bankruptcies.
If it looks like he will lose he either drops the suit or settles out of court.
I doubt that The State of California will agree to settle on this one…
So California is going to have to somehow say that this has to do with electors? i.e. you can’t be a Trump elector if he doesn’t give up the returns?
What are you afraid of Donnie? What don’t you want us to see? Enquiring Minds want to know.