Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19-715_febh.pdf
Page Number: 26.0

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

1 

THOMAS, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

_________________ 

Nos. 19–715 and 19–760 
_________________ 

19–715 

DONALD J. TRUMP, ET AL., PETITIONERS 
v. 
MAZARS USA, LLP, ET AL. 

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

19–760 

DONALD J. TRUMP, ET AL., PETITIONERS 
v. 
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, ET AL. 

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

[July 9, 2020]

 JUSTICE THOMAS, dissenting. 
Three Committees of the U. S. House of Representatives 
issued subpoenas to several accounting and financial firms 
to obtain the personal financial records of the President, his
family, and several of his business entities.  The Commit-
tees do not argue that these subpoenas were issued pursu-
ant to the House’s impeachment power.  Instead, they argue 
that the subpoenas are a valid exercise of their legislative 
powers.

Petitioners challenge the validity of these subpoenas.  In 
doing so, they call into question our precedents to the extent 
that they allow Congress to issue legislative subpoenas for 
the President’s private, nonofficial documents.  I would hold 
that Congress has no power to issue a legislative subpoena
for private, nonofficial documents—whether they belong to
the President or not.  Congress may be able to obtain these 
documents as part of an investigation of the President, but