Statement By New York State Senator Brad Hoylman Refuting Trump Lawyers' Reading of NY Tax Return Law

NEW YORK -- Today, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement in response to news reports that former President Donald Trump’s lawyers are arguing that New York’s TRUST Act no longer applies to him. The TRUST Act, authored by Senator Hoylman and passed in 2019, authorizes the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to share tax return information of certain elected officials and political appointees with a requesting Congressional committee.

Senator Hoylman said: “The TRUST Act explicitly applies to New York State tax returns — including past returns — filed by elected officials including the President of the United States. Nothing in the statute suggests that it no longer applies once a covered individual leaves elected office. Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he’s desperate to avoid scrutiny of his tax returns, so I’m not surprised by his latest attempt to wriggle out of the plain language and clear legislative intent of the law. The District Court should reject this specious argument, and the House Ways & Means Committee should make a formal request for Trump’s tax returns if they are continuing their investigation into his finances.”

Head here to view the text of the TRUST Act sponsored by Senator Hoylman and passed in 2019.