<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The US Supreme Court has clear the way for former President Donald Trump's tax forms to be released to a Democratic-controlled congressional committee.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The justices rejected Mr Trump's bid in October to block a lower court's ruling that granted the panel's request for his financial records.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The move is a blow to Mr Trump, who has for years kept his returns sealed.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Mr Trump became the first president in 40 years not to release his taxes after announcing his first presidential run.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has been seeking access to his records since 2019.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Mr Trump, who launched his third campaign for the White House last week, is facing multiple investigations related to his business practices. He denies any wrongdoing.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The Supreme Court's brief response on Tuesday did not note dissent from any of the judges.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The decision means the US treasury department can deliver the tax returns from 2015-20 for Mr Trump and some of his businesses to the Democratic-controlled committee.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">It comes just before the Republicans take control of the House after this month's midterm elections.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Donald Trump was almost able to run out the clock on the congressional request to view his tax returns.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">With just over a month left of Democratic control of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court has given the green light for the treasury department to provide the documents to the Ways and Means Committee.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Given that the treasury department is run by the Biden administration, the process of handing over the documents should proceed expeditiously. Democrats won't have long to review them before Republicans take over on 3 January, however. And coming up with any proposed changes to federal law regarding presidential tax returns - the stated purpose of the congressional request - seems a pointless effort with the little time remaining before congressional adjournment.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">But a few weeks may be long enough to unearth evidence of any unusual or potentially improper accounting by Mr Trump - and for those details to leak to the public. And that, many assume, was the real motive behind the request.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Mr Trump has had two other defeats this year from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, three of whose justices he appointed.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">In October, the court refused to weigh in on the legal fight over the FBI search of Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. Agents served a warrant at the estate on suspicion that the former president may have improperly handled classified documents. </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">In January, the court refused to act to stop the National Archives from handing over documents to the committee investigating the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol by Trump supporters.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Mr Trump has rejected the Ways and Means Committee's hunt for his taxes as politically motivated. </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Last year, a Trump-appointed judge on the court of appeals in Washington DC ruled that the House did have a legitimate need to review the forms.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The committee has argued that it needs to see Mr Trump's records to determine whether tax officials are properly auditing presidential candidates, and whether any new legislation is necessary.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">They had argued to the lower court that Mr Trump's refusal blocked Congress from conducting oversight of the executive and judicial branches. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>