LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles County resident filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the legality of a newly signed state law that requires presidential candidates to release their tax returns from the past five years before they can appear on the California ballot.
Timothy D. Lykins, described as a Republican voter, claims in the lawsuit that SB 27 “violates the voting and associational rights of Mr. Lykins and other Republican primary voters by imposing an unreasonable condition for ballot access on their chosen primary presidential candidate, Donald Trump, the incumbent president of the United States.”
The suit asks that a judge declare that the law — signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 30 — violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys said they plan to seek an injunction blocking the enforcement of the law.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Los Angeles. A similar lawsuit was filed in federal court in Sacramento by the conservative group Judicial Watch, which claims its clients include Republican, Democrat and Independent voters.
SB 27 requires candidates for U.S. president and California governor to provide copies of their five most recent tax returns with the California Secretary of State’s office. The law was aimed at Trump, who has been criticized by Democrats for refusing to release copies of his tax returns.
Former Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a previous version of the law, suggesting the requirement may be unconstitutional.
Newsom, however, strongly backed the measure.
“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 wrote when he signed the bill. “The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing or influence from domestic and foreign business interest. The United States Constitution grants states the authority to determine how their electors are chosen, and California is well within its constitutional right to include this requirement.”
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fact check says
Jerry Brown promised to turn over his tax returns dating back to 1983. Jerry Brown has never fully disclosed the sources of his income for the decade after he served as Governor of California. I do applaud him for vetoing bill to require Trump to do so. Of course Newsom has definitely gone all “I’m rubber and you’re glue.”
Tim Scott says
Can you link any contemporaneous coverage of this “promise” that Brown made? I find it hard to believe that such a promise was made because it seems like it would have been met with “if you are promising to do it why not just do it now?” D’ump used the bald faced lie that he “couldn’t because of the audit” to lay grounds for his bald faced lie that he “would release them as soon as the audit was complete.” How did Brown make such a promise and not get called on it immediately?
Alexis says
Tim; Jerry Brown had a history of not releasing his tax returns. That game of Tax Return Release Chicken, that the candidates for governor played is information anyone can easily look up. Jerry Brown also vetoed the bill to pry loose Trump’s tax returns. The veto in which Brown cautioned against setting a “slippery slope precedent,” marked a setback for Democrats. My opinion means nothing, but I would love to see unity, and all states united in the United States of America.
Tim Scott says
Well, yeah. He got elected numerous times and never released any tax returns. That’s not what I asked.
The question was about this supposed “promise” that he made to release them. I don’t think he ever made any such promise. He was a flat “no,” period. Up until D’ump I don’t think there was anyone making such a promise; they either released them or they didn’t.
Alexis says
Thanks for the correction. Honestly, I always liked Jerry Brown, and my family knew his dad. I thought it was cool when he ran for president, because he always did things in his uniquely unconventional way. I liked Linda Ronstadt too.
Trumpist#1 says
Comrade Newsom decided to squash the death penalty after majority of voters voted to speed up the process. Blatant, shameless disregard for voters wishes. And that is the very definition of a communist dictator.
Tim Scott says
Voting to expedite the appeals process didn’t solve the legal problems involved in how the death penalty is applied. Until that is resolved California performing an execution would be putting the state and its taxpayers at immense risk of a civil rights lawsuit that could carry an enormous penalty. The moratorium is simple self defense.
recall says
Governor Newsom you have gone too far! Dictator Newsom dictating. Jerry Brown even knows better.
Alexis says
Would someone with an unbiased mind please answer my question. Why did California voters vote for Jerry Brown as Governor knowing he didn’t make his tax returns public?
Random Stranger says
I don’t know, but I can’t remember anyone asking for Browns tax returns. Trump has a history with tax problems and he promised to release them while running for office. A better question would be, why is Trump taking desperate legal measures to prevent anyone from seeing his returns. Why did he constantly promise to release them unless he never intended to follow through? This problem has a very easy solution unless there is a serious problem within those returns. All politicians should show their taxes or pick a different career.
Alexis says
I understand what you’re saying. I also believe all politicians should show their tax returns. I also see all of this hyper-partisanship is destroying us. All politicians should be held to strict standards of transparency for the people, but that rarely happens. Most politicians make promises to get the votes, but back off when elected.
Tim Scott says
Actually, most politicians over the past several decades have voluntarily disclosed their tax returns. Brown is an exception, but as noted I don’t think anyone suspected him of criminal activities that would have been revealed in his taxes. D’ump was, and still is, widely suspected of such activities, so him choosing to be such an exception is an issue.
Either way, it is about time this “honor system” was retired, and I applaud the states that have included tax returns in their financial disclosure requirements.
don't divide us says
Applaud the states that have included tax returns in their financial disclosure, after, of course, the retirement of Jerry Brown. So if you don’t THINK Jerry Brown was involved in any illegal activity then he didn’t need to show his tax returns. You have a discernment problem.
Tim Scott says
No, I have a recognition of consensus. I don’t really recall ANY concerns aired about Brown being involved in fraud, even by his numerous opponents over the years. D’ump, on the other hand, is recognized even among his supporters as “well, yeah, he probably is but I think that’s beside the point.”
I would have preferred that Brown follow what has become common practice and release his returns back when he was a candidate, but I acknowledge that even among his opponents there wasn’t anyone strenuously calling for him to do it. D’ump, again on the other hand, was not only called on to do it but placated his own supporters by promising that he would. Those supporters now are backing his breaking of that promise. What’s up with that?
Trumpist#1 says
I’ve always thought of Gov. Moonbeam as batsh!t crazy (except for Linda Ronstadt) and commie socialist but not corrupt, but with all the billions stolen for the train to nowhere, I wonder what his tax returns would look like now.
I have no real idea, just thinking, but that’s lots of our money down the tube !! Someone got rich, no?
Magnetlady says
This suit, along with Judicial Watch, WILL go the the Supreme Court.. BTW, what will ”Gov. Newsom” think of next dental records, health records? IF Trump is denied on our Primary Ballot, he WILL be on the General in Nov 2020..The States cannot change the rules for Federal Elections!! This is clearly aimed at Trump, which is so wrong & UNCONSTITUTIONAL!! Geesh, talk about ”Voter Suppression”
Laughing says
You point out that he will be on the ballot for the General election so how exactly is it voter suppression (which is actually removing voters through various means)?
William says
Magnetlady. You can still write in Trump’s name on the ballot.
Also, what Laughing said.
Hasn’t Trump taught you by now that there are no longer any rules in this country? He doesn’t follow any so why should anyone else? Explain that please.
Trump hasn’t read the Constitution so I guess it doesn’t apply to him in this case.
Did you say anything about the voter suppression in many red states that was ruled unconstitional by the courts?
Are you still reading this?
B.O.B. says
newsom you must be a perfect politician.
maybe the public should see your tax returns and do a back round check on you.
I would like to know how you pass bills in to law with out a single vote from the public.
because I know you do not have my best interest ! tax tax tax , bill bill bill !
William says
Uh, B.O.B
You do know that the public doesn’t vote of every bill that a governor signs don’t you? There is a bi-cameral legislature in Sacramento that passes bills and then the governor signs them. The “public” voted for their representatives in Sacremento and for Newsom. That’s how it works. Our Assemblymember is called “Lackey”.
Bi-cameral was Steve Knight’s stepping stones to the House of Representatives and, then, away he went with dozens of other Republicans.
And, now, the even better news. At least 5 Republicans in Congress are retiring and not running for re-election next year. There will likely be many more to come.
Then what? Trump’s base will vote in the primaries for the craziest, most Trump-like cretins we’ve ever seen and they’ll lose big time in the general.
The Grand Old Party (RIP 2020) It’s shoulda been much sooner but some people like to be right about Trump and suffer. It’s a sickness. Notice that Trump supporters are never happy even though they won?