Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris Lauds Passage Of Bills To Hold President Trump Accountable

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and the Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation that will hold President Donald Trump accountable by authorizing New York State to release state tax returns requested by Congress and allowing state authorities to prosecute someone even if they receive a Presidential reprieve, pardon or other form of clemency.

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “No person is above the law, including the President of the United States. I am proud to support these proposals to send a message that New York insists on accountability and transparency no matter how powerful one is.”

 The legislation advanced by the Senate Majority includes:

Taxes: This bill, S.5072-A, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman, will allow New York State officials to release state tax returns in cooperation with Congressional investigations by authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Taxation and Finance to furnish state tax returns upon written request of the Chairpersons of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, or the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Double Jeopardy: This bill, S.4572, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, will allow New York state prosecutors to bring charges against people who have received presidential pardons, or other forms of clemency, in certain circumstances. This bill only applies in situations where the President had a conflict of interest in the case; for example, where the person pardoned is related to the President, or had previously worked for the President. 

Video of Senator Gianaris’ floor speech on this legislation is available here: https://youtu.be/8en4DFdtVzU. 

Video of Senator Gianaris’ remarks at Senate Majority’s press conference is available here: https://bit.ly/2LvL4uo.

High-resolution photos of the press conference are available here: https://bit.ly/2HaUJRE.