A federal judge in Sacramento issued a temporary injunction against a new state law that was intended to force Trump to disclose his tax returns in order to run for reelection in 2020.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law, SB 27, in July that requires any person running for president to disclose five years of income tax returns to secure a spot on the state primary ballot. “These are extraordinary times and states have a legal and moral duty to do everything in their power to ensure leaders seeking the highest offices meet minimal standards, and to restore public confidence,” Newsom said at the time.
U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. felt differently. Ruling from the bench on Thursday, England said the new law would cause “irreparable harm without temporary relief” not only to Trump but to many other presidential candidates.
Citing the Ethics in Government Act, which has been federal law since 1978, England suggested that the new law was superfluous to already existing requirements for candidates to disclose their financial status. “Do we even need to get here if EIGA preempts [the new California law]?” England asked of the court on Thursday. “
At least five lawsuits, including one by the president, have been filed since SB 27 was signed into law and plaintiffs on both sides have felt the pressure of the upcoming 2020 election. The law requires that all candidates submit their tax returns by November.
The injunction issued by England is expected to be appealed.
