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The financial records battle of Donald Trump has finally reached the courts. It can be the start of a long and harsh war. The attorneys of Trump urged U.S district judge Amit Mehta to abolish subpoenas issued by the U.S House oversight and reform committee. They have discovered Trump’s tax records from his longtime accountant, Mazars USA. Trump’s legal team has argued Democrats on Capitol Hill aren’t looking his records as part of any legislative effort, instead suggesting the subpoenas serve a law-enforcement purpose outside of congressional jurisdiction. William Consovoy is one of Trump’s lawyers. He also said he didn’t believe Congress could investigate matters of corruption in relation to the president.

Consovoy informed the judge, “I don’t think that’s the proper subject of investigation as to the president”. He pointed out that he believed executive agencies could still be investigated. The judge reportedly became incredulous because of Consovoy’s response, noting similar investigations against former presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Those investigations led to their resignation and impeachment, respectively. USA Today reported, Judge said, “They were inquiring as to violations of criminal law. It’s pretty straightforward among other things.” Democrats also appear to be investigating potential violations of criminal law in discovering the president’s tax returns.

Consovoy himself argued that the U.S Congress issued subpoenas to look into whether Trump had provided false information regarding his financial dealings and loans that may have left him indebted to foreign lenders. The committees of U.S Congress were investigating the president and also looking to confirm whether the president misled banks regarding his real estate holdings and other inconsistencies that were noted by his longtime former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen during his public testimony on Capitol Hill earlier this year. The judge also said the subpoena could be blocked if it appeared U.S Congress was stepping into the arena of the other 2 branches of government, or that the investigations were simply for the sake of exposure.