Supreme Court clears way for Trump tax records to be sent to Congress by IRS

President Donald Trump arrives to address the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 24, 2019.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a bid by former President Donald Trump to stop Congress from obtaining his federal income tax returns.

Before Republicans take control of the House, the Ways and Means Committee will be able to obtain Trump's tax returns.

GOP lawmakers vow to end the committee's quest to obtain the records and a related probe into how the IRS audits the tax returns of sitting presidents

The order Tuesday by the Supreme Court, which noted no dissent from any justice, comes more than three months after a three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of the Ways and Means Committee.

The entire appeals court denied Trump's request to have the judges rehear his case.

The Supreme Court was asked to stop the committee from getting his tax returns.

The case raises important questions about the separation of powers that will affect future presidents.

The Supreme Court refused to stay the lower court rulings that allowed the committee to get his returns.

In April of this year, the Ways and Means Committee asked the Treasury Department for the federal income tax returns of the ex-president. At that time, Trump was in office.

The Treasury Department and IRS are required by federal law to give income tax returns to the Ways and Means and other congressional committees.

The Treasury Secretary who was appointed by Trump refused to comply with the request for his tax returns.

The committee filed a lawsuit to get the returns.

The chairman of the committee renewed his request for the tax returns after Biden defeated Trump. The committee would review potential conflicts of interest by a president and review how tax laws apply to them.

According to an opinion by the department's lawyers, the Treasury Department will release the returns in mid- 2021. Treasury had a legal obligation to comply with Neal's request.

Trump argued that the request did not have a legitimate purpose and that it violated the constitutional separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

The judge said the committee had a right to the returns.

There is a long line of Supreme Court cases. Special solicitude accorded former presidents doesn't change the outcome.

The committee needs only a valid purpose. The thing has done so.

This is happening. Don't forget to check back for the latest news.