Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19-635_o7jq.pdf
Page Number: 33.0

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

1 

THOMAS, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 19–635 
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DONALD J. TRUMP, PETITIONER v. CYRUS R. VANCE, 
JR., IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY 
OF THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, ET AL. 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 
APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT 

[July 9, 2020]

 JUSTICE THOMAS, dissenting. 
Respondent Cyrus Vance, Jr., the district attorney for the
County of New York, served a grand jury subpoena on the 
President’s personal accounting firm.  The subpoena, which
is nearly identical to a subpoena issued by a congressional
Committee, requests nearly 10 years of the President’s per-
sonal financial records.  Ante, at 2, and n. 2.  In response to
this  troublingly  broad  request,  the  President,  in  his  per-
sonal capacity, sought a declaration in federal court “ ‘that
the subpoena is invalid and unenforceable’ ” and an injunc-
tion preventing respondent “ ‘from taking any action to en-
force the subpoena.’ ”  Ante, at 2.  The District Court denied 
the President’s motion for a preliminary injunction, and the
Second Circuit affirmed in relevant part.  Ante, at 2–3. 

The President argues that he is absolutely immune from
the  issuance  of  any  subpoena,  but  that  if  the  Court  disa-
grees, we should remand so that the District Court can de-
velop a record about this particular subpoena.  I agree with
the majority that the President is not entitled to absolute
immunity from issuance of the subpoena.  But he may be 
entitled to relief against its enforcement.  I therefore agree
with the President that the proper course is to vacate and 
remand.  If the President can show that “his duties as chief 
magistrate  demand  his  whole  time  for  national  objects,”