Newt Gingrich says 'the Kavanaugh fight was worth it' if the justice shields Trump's tax returns from Democrats

New Gingrich on the Kavanaugh confirmation fight

(Image credit: Screenshot/The Washington Post)

published 26 October 2018

If Democrats win control of at least one branch of Congress in November — the House is the likeliest to flip — they have expressed a strong interest in obtaining President Trump's tax returns, which the Ways and Means Committee should legally be able to do. On Wednesday, Trump ally and informal adviser Newt Gingrich said Trump isn't worried.

"I don't think he has any fear of the Democrats' ability to investigate," Gingrich told The Washington Post. "But he's been raising that fear out there on the campaign trail," noted Washington Post reporter Karen Tumulty. "Sure, that's because he wants everyone to go vote," Gingrich said. "And what about if they subpoena his tax returns?" Tumulty asked. "Then they'll be trapped into appealing to the Supreme Court, and we'll see whether or not the Kavanaugh fight was worth it," Gingrich said.

One reason Trump is believed to have chosen Justice Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, and stuck by him amid accusations of sexual assault in his teenage years, is because Kavanaugh has demonstrated an expansive view of presidential powers and protection from legal action (at least after Bill Clinton's presidency). And if you're interested in more about Gingrich's martial, zero-sum view of politics, read the profile of him by McKay Coppins in The Atlantic.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.