House committee can obtain Trump tax returns from IRS, appeals court rules

The House Ways and Means Committee first sought the records in 2019.

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the House Ways and Means Committee can obtain Donald Trump's tax returns in the latest blow to the former president's effort to shield his finances from Democratic lawmakers.

In the opinion for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge David Sentelle, a Ronald Reagan appointee, wrote that the committee's investigation served a valid legislative purpose and that the 2019 request for Trump's records was not a retaliatory move in violation of his First Amendment rights.

"The need for the Trump Parties' information to inform potential legislation overrides the burden to the Executive Branch largely because that burden is so tenuous," Sentelle wrote.

While the committee said it expects to receive the returns "immediately," it's not clear how quickly that process will unfold -- given that Trump could still appeal the ruling.

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.