Refusal to hand over Donald Trump's tax returns sets up legal fight

The chief options available to Democrats are to subpoena the IRS for the returns or to file a lawsuit

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has made it official: The administration won't be turning President Donald Trump's tax returns over to the Democratic-controlled House.

Mnuchin told Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., in a Monday letter that the panel's request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose" as Supreme Court precedent requires.
 

In making that determination, Mnuchin said he relied on the advice of the Justice Department.
 

He concluded that the Treasury Department is "not authorized to disclose the requested returns and return information." He said the Justice Department will provide a more detailed legal justification soon.

The move, which was