October Term 2019 · Docket 19-715
Can Congress subpoena a President's personal records?
The dispute centers on whether congressional committees may compel a sitting President to hand over personal financial documents.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
The President's counsel argued the subpoenas are unprecedented and target personal records.
The committees' counsel argued the President must comply with the subpoenas.
justice_question
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-6 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 26-6 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 26-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of congressional subpoena power over a President's private records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 12, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 28-8
What each side wants
The President seeks to block the subpoenas for his personal records.
The committees seek to enforce the subpoenas for the President's records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
What each side says
The President argues the subpoenas target personal records and threaten the presidency.
The committees argue the President must provide the requested personal records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the scope of the House's subpoena power.
Justice Thomas asked the President's counsel to define the limited power claimed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-6 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 26-6 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 26-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-10
Why it matters
This case defines the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. It determines whether a President can withhold personal records from Congress. The outcome shapes future congressional oversight of the executive branch.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-6 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 30-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 30-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 38-46 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 38-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 26-6 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 26-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-10
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 12-54 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 12-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 54-40 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 54-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 42-22 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 42-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 44-14 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 44-14
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.