Banks say they take no position in Trump lawsuit over congressional subpoenas

Deutsche Bank and Capital One said in letters filed in court on Tuesday that the banks do not want to take a position in the legal fight between President Trump and House Democrats seeking to obtain financial records from the banks.

Each bank made the assertion in separate letters, filed in response to a request from Trump’s lawyers seeking copies of the congressional subpoenas issued to the banks.

{mosads}Deutsche Bank wrote in a brief letter that the “underlying controversy” in the lawsuit — which initially targeted Deutsche Bank and Capital One — is between House Democrats and the president, his family and private businesses.

“As such, Deutsche Bank takes no position,” the letter states.

An attorney for Capital One said as much in a similar letter, writing that it “takes no position with respect to Plaintiffs’ request for an order” requiring the committees to hand over copies of the subpoenas.

Attorneys for the president have stated in previous filings that the banks and lawmakers have both declined to provide them with the actual subpoenas but that Deutsche Bank did give them a summary of the documents request.

The subpoenas, issued by House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), seek years of financial records pertaining to Trump, his family and his businesses.

Trump’s lawyers said in a previous court filing that the banks have agreed to not hand over any of the requested materials until a judge makes a ruling on whether to issue a preliminary injunction in the case. 

The president’s attorneys on Friday formally requested that a judge issue a preliminary injunction in the case and signaled that they would appeal any ruling not in their favor.

Trump sued the banks late last month in an attempt to block them from handing over the financial documents to Congress. He also filed a lawsuit against House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) to quash a subpoena he issued to the accounting firm Mazars for records pertaining to Trump.

Deutsche Bank Letter by on Scribd

Capital One Letter by on Scribd