The U.S. Supreme Court set a May 12 argument date for blockbuster cases over grand jury and congressional subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records.
The subpoena cases are among 10 the court is hearing by telephone in a special May session that will include the first live broadcasts of Supreme Court arguments. The court announced the session this week, rescheduling half of the 20 arguments once scheduled for March and April, as the justices try to salvage their docket amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Trump is challenging subpoenas from Congress and the Manhattan district attorney in cases that raise sweeping questions about investigations into alleged misconduct by the president. Trump is seeking to sharply limit Congress’s powers and give presidents immunity from state criminal probes while in office.
The subpoenas seek years of Trump’s personal records, as well as those of the Trump Organization and his other businesses. They are directed to Trump’s accountants, Top 100 Firm Mazars USA, and his banks, Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp.
Congressional Democrats have been pushing for a quick resolution in the hope of seeing the documents, which could include Trump’s tax returns, before the November election. The Supreme Court’s term normally ends in late June, though the justices could extend that time frame. The subpoena cases originally were scheduled for arguments March 31.
The court also said Wednesday it will hear arguments on May 13 in a fight over the Electoral College, the body that formally selects the president. At issue is whether states can stop “faithless electors” who try to cast a vote for someone other than the candidate who won their state’s balloting. The court will also be considering two high-profile religious-rights disputes during the special session.
