A federal judge in New York today ruled that Deutsche Bank and Capital One may provide President Trump’s financial records to House Democratic lawmakers after the administration attempted to block the move.
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos made the ruling in a New York courthouse this afternoon after hearing arguments from both parties in the case.
The ruling is the second setback for Trump this week in his fight to stop lawmakers from gaining access to his financial records as part of their sweeping probes into him, his administration, his private businesses and his family.
Trump, his businesses and family members had argued for the federal court in New York to issue a preliminary injunction to block the subpoenas for documents.
Trump had sued the financial institutions to try and block them from handing over the documents in response to subpoenas issued by House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
The president’s attorneys had requested a preliminary injunction in the case, claiming that there would be “irreparable harm” if the financial records were given to House Democrats.
Lawyers for House Democrats pushed back against that claim.
They argued in court filings that Congress was conducting “legitimate” investigations, and that Trump and his businesses “have continually engaged in stonewalling intended to obstruct and undermine these inquiries.”
Today’s ruling is the second blow this week to Trump in his legal war against House Democrats after a federal judge in D.C. ruled Monday that his accounting firm Mazars could hand over requested financial records to the House Oversight and Reform Committee.
Trump’s attorneys have appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Some House Democrats have pointed to the legal victories to argue that starting an impeachment inquiry against Trump is not fully necessary in order to hold him accountable.
And others have said it’s a sign they will also win in other battles with the administration, like the push to obtain Trump’s tax returns.
Still, Trump’s lawyers are likely to appeal the latest ruling as well.
And with major political implications at hand, judges are likely to be cautious in issuing their rulings, meaning that the legal battle could be drag out over the coming weeks and months.
Some legal experts have predicted that the fight could go all the way up the court system to the Supreme Court.
The justices are expected to wrap up their term by the end of June.