Trump Organization sues Rep. Elijah Cummings to block recent subpoena

Attorneys for President Trump and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit Monday that seeks to block a recent subpoena issued by Rep. Elijah Cummings for financial information from Mazars USA, an accounting firm that has done work for the company.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in D.C., says Mr. Cummings, chairman of the House oversight committee, “has ignored the constitutional limits on Congress’ power to investigate” and that his subpoena of Mazars lacks a “legitimate legislative purpose.”

It says the subpoena also threatens to expose “confidential information,” and asks the court to declare Mr. Cummings‘ subpoena “invalid and unenforceable.”

“The Democrat Party, with its newfound control of the U.S. House of Representatives, has declared all-out political war against President Donald J. Trump,” the lawsuit says. “Subpoenas are their weapon of choice.”

Mr. Cummings, Maryland Democrat, had announced plans earlier this month to subpoena documents from the firm in order to corroborate testimony from Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s longtime former lawyer and fixer, about the president’s financial information.

The subpoena demands financial statements and supporting documents from Mazars for Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization, and other entities such as a revocable trust in the president’s name. The time period for the subpoena included calendar years 2011 through 2018.