Representative Richard E. Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has said that he would prefer that Mr. Trump release his tax returns voluntarily. Even if congressional Democrats do obtain Mr. Trump’s tax returns, they may face legal and political risks for releasing the documents to the public without his approval. But the road to such an outcome would be too long and cumbersome for effective oversight. First, the House or Senate can each try to imprison witnesses, but this process has been “long dormant,” according to the Congressional Research Service. Congress can also refer a contempt case to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

Source: New York Times January 08, 2019 10:00 UTC