Trump and GOP sue California over law requiring tax returns to run in state's primary

[diva77]

Source: AP

The Trump campaign and the Republican Party sued California on Tuesday over a new law requiring presidential candidates to release their tax returns to run in the state's primary.

One of the suits contends California's law is "a naked political attack against the sitting President of the United States."

The law signed last week by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is aimed at prying loose President Trump's tax returns, which he has refused to release, saying they are under audit. California's law requires candidates for president and governor to release five years of tax returns to appear on the state's primary ballot.

It does not include a similar requirement for the general election.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-08-06/trump-california-tax-returns-law-suit

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surprise, surprise

[PJMcK]

1. Trump's default position

File a lawsuit.

Delay.

Obfuscate.

Lie.

Trump is a fucker.

He's also an idiot.

[in2herbs]

12. I get so po'd that he can sue but cannot be sued!! nt

[displacedtexan]

17. He can be sued & is currently facing dozens of suits.

Clinton was sued, & Republicans are now stuck with that precedence. State election laws are pretty much sacrosanct; otherwise, red states wouldn't be able to suppress the vote so successfully.

[stopbush]

2. The Rs can't win this. CA pays for the primaries and they get to set their own rules.

[ScratchCat]

4. I tend to agree

Because the Federal government has no mechanism to force California or any other State to place a particular candidate on the ballot. Seriously, what are they going to do? And California isn't a Voting Rights Act state, so they are out of luck "taking over" the election.

[Thekaspervote]

16. Oh... interesting good to know. I do believe Illinois is going to pass a similar law soon... yeah!!

[keithbvadu2]

3. Donald can run as a write-in candidate.

[CincyDem]

6. I'm sorry- did you just suggest that he run as a white-in candidate ???

[keithbvadu2]

21. OUCH!

[stopbush]

8. Not if the state-funded primary does not provide such an option.

[BlueIdaho]

5. So much for States Rights

And state control of elections...

[stopbush]

7. This was decided by California v Jones. The SCOTUS ruled that political

parties are allowed to control their primary contests however they see fit, whether that means primary v caucus, how to qualify as a candidate, etc.

When it comes to state-funded primaries, political parties are invited to participate at low or no cost, but they must follow the state rules. Political parties can always hold their own state primaries - and sometime do - but they are paying for those, not the state. There are a few states where the state sponsors a primary while a political party sponsors a separate primary on a different date.

[struggle4progress]

23. Don't expect the rightwing majority to rule based on principle:

expedience and their political allegiances are likely to determine their stance

[stopbush]

38. Like I said, already decided.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Courts should make Trump answer

why it's ok to leak information favorable to Trump, but not ok by law to require release of information that might be unfavorable to him (is this lawsuit confession?), and that all other candidates and incumbents release. This one-way Trump two-sided street has got to end.

If Trump is so successful, and so rich, he sure isn't proud enough of his money and power to tell the public how he did it. I suspect it's either that he actually didn't, or the methods used have no bragging rights.

[Scalded Nun]

10. Didn't the SCOTUS just rule that States need to run their own elections

without any Fed interference. Of course, this was to allow for Gerrymandering and other voter-suppression efforts. The knife can cut both ways.

[TeamPooka]

11. Take it to the SCOTUS! Fight to tell people you have something to hide! Please and thank you!

[tirebiter]

13. I find the thing a sign of desperation

Jerry Brown vetoed A similar measure when it came before him. This is Judicial Watch.

[Marie Marie]

14. Does anyone know the actual number of lawsuits filed by Trump since he has been President?

Seems like there is another one very day. And how many have been filed by other Presidents?

[Gothmog]

15. This will be fun to watch

[NewJeffCT]

18. Now we need to make sure that Weld or somebody else

can get on the California GOP ballot

[MichMan]

19. I still dont understand why it only applies to president and governor?

Tax returns should be required for every single candidate for all state and local offices as well.

[diva77]

20. I agree! There are lots of local elected officials on the loose who are compromised.

[cojoel]

22. How does he have standing to sue?

Normally you have to demonstrate actual injury. He has not been precluded from the primary ballot, and that wouldn't happen until next year sometime, maybe.

[PJMcK]

35. There are many stages to all lawsuits

This filing is just an early step.

It would be hilarious if the judge threw out the suit because Trump lacked standing! It could happen.

[ripcord]

24. Hopefully this will make it through the courts quickly

If this case misses the next round of SCOTUS there is a very good chance a stay will allow trump on the ballot.

[jpak]

25. States can do pretty much what they want with election laws: gerrymandering, voter suppression, etc.

when the GOP does it.

Trump and the GOP can go fuck themselves.

Yup

[Kurt V.]

26. this isn't going to pass muster. Eventually it will be overturned.

[SamKnause]

27. Is there anybody that fucker isn't suing ???

[Gothmog]

28. This is a 15 page poorly drafted petition

This petition is poorly drafted and is only 15 pages http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/08/06/1.-.complaint.pdf Somehow California is violating trump's first amendment rights by making him file his tax returns. This is a poorly drafted piece of shit petition

[mwooldri]

29. 1A? Surely the new law is violating his 5A rights?

Filing tax returns does not abridge DJT's right to free speech, but releasing his tax returns might incriminate him in some evil ploy that we don't yet know about.

[Alpeduez21]

32. He doesn't have to release his tax returns.

He can choose not to run for president. Seems it's hard to argue that he undergoes a hardship b/c he can't run for president. It's not like he is being forced to run. He can choose not to run.

[VMA131Marine]

34. Self-incrimination only counts

If you're charged with a crime.

And if Trump is worried about what his returns might reveal, he can keep his name off the ballot.

Trump isn't going to win in California, but if he's not on the ballot, it will depress Republican voter turnout and the party will lose even more Congressional seats. That's the only reason the GOP is fighting this. Remember it hasn't been an issue in previous elections because every Presidential candidate has released at least some returns (I believe Romney took his time though).

[Gothmog]

39. Do not give these idiots any new ideas but you may be correct

[diva77]

36. Thanks for digging up the document.

whatta mess!

If the filing is on behalf of Dump, private citizen, that means $$ should be coming out of his pocket, correct?

[captain queeg]

30. Remember when the Rs were all about states rights?

Their hypocrisy is so transparent. Everything is used in one direction-theirs

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. With the exception of Deadbeat Don everyone since Nixon has released theirs.

Dumbshit thinks he's special.

[Brainfodder]

33. Trust but verify?

muhaha!

This tax return dodge is amazing in scope and no leak!?!

This too can't last?

[Hotler]

37. 5..4..3..2..1... right on time.

Suck it Don.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

40. As much as I hate to type this, I think Trump eventually wins.

The constitution is pretty clear on what it takes to run for president. I think that will override the states.