Chief Justice Roberts Blocks Release of Trump's Tax Records

Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has temporarily blocked the release of former President Donald Trump's tax records to the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Key Quotes: "Upon consideration of the application of counsel for the applicants, it is so ordered that the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, case No. 21-5289, is hereby stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the court," said Roberts in his order, which also requested that the committee respond before noon on Nov. 10.

For Context: On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declined to reconsider the ruling of a three-judge panel that the committee could obtain the tax returns. Without Supreme Court intervention, the ruling would have taken effect Thursday, allowing the committee to obtain the tax records. Federal law allows the House Ways and Means Committee chairman to request tax returns, which are otherwise confidential. The legal battle began in April 2019, when chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) asked for Trump's tax returns and those of related business entities.

How the Media Covered It: Thomas's temporary order was covered by sources across the political spectrum, with some on the left pointing out that, while no law requires a presidential candidate to release their tax returns, most Democrats and Republicans do so.