Massive Setback For Donald Trump! Federal Judge Asks US Prez To Submit Tax Returns To Manhattan DA

The ruling by Judge Victor Marrero of Federal District Court in Manhattan came as a second big blow to the US President in his yearlong legal battle to block the subpoena.

United President Donald Trump. (File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: In what comes as a massive setback for Donald Trump, a judge in the Southern District of New York on Thursday officially struck down United States President's  request to block a subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance for his tax returns. As per reports, the Federal judge has rejected Trump’s latest effort to shield his tax returns information from Manhattan district attorney. The ruling by Judge Victor Marrero of Federal District Court in Manhattan came as a second big blow to the US President in his yearlong legal battle to block the subpoena. Last time, the conflict comprising Trump's income tax returns reached the Supreme Court and could end up there again, in case the US President makes an appeal. According to New York Times report, district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat, has been seeking eight years of Trump’s personal and business income returns and other financial records as part of an investigation into the president’s business practices. Marrero also said letting Trump block the subpoena, which was issued last August, would amount to an “undue expansion” of presidential immunity, news agency Reuters said referring to a 103-page decision by the Federal judge. “Justice requires an end to this controversy,” Marrero wrote in his directive. As soon as the judgement came, President Trump quickly appealed the decision and filed an emergency motion to delay turning over his tax returns. In his response, Trump said enforcing the subpoena would cause him irreparable harm by disclosing his “private, confidential information.” While speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the case will likely head back to the Supreme Court, which on July 9 rejected his earlier argument he was immune from state criminal probes while in office. Earlier American Supreme Court had said that the Republican president could still challenge the subpoena on other grounds. Marrero had also ruled last October that Vance, a Democrat, could enforce the subpoena.