A federal judge has formally blocked a California law that would require presidential candidates to release five years' worth of tax returns in order to run in the state's primary elections.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act in July.
Since then it's sparked several lawsuits, including one from President Donald Trump's legal team. A Trump campaign official told news outlets the law is unconstitutional, arguing states can't add additional requirements for someone to become president. The judge issued a temporary injunction on the law last month.
In the final decision on Tuesday, the judge wrote that while the court "understands and empathizes with the motivations" behind the law, it likely violates the Constitution and federal laws. He also said it would've set a dangerous precedent in allowing states to set their own requirements for candidates.
Just hours after the opinion was released, California's secretary of state announced plans to appeal.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
