U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s financial records are in question as these protesters demand a criminal case be filed against him. AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Supreme Court (SC) agreed Friday to hear cases next year involving the release of President Donald Trump’s tax returns and financial records, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster ruling during the presidential election campaign.

Trump has been seeking to block access to his tax returns and other records in cases brought by New York prosecutors and Democratic-controlled committees in the House of Representatives.

Lower courts have ruled that Trump must turn over the documents, but lawyers for the president appealed to the nation’s highest court, arguing that as chief executive, he has blanket immunity.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court granted review of the president’s three pending cases,” Jay Sekulow, Trump’s personal attorney, said in a statement. “These cases raise significant constitutional issues.

“We look forward to presenting our written and oral arguments.”

The SC — where conservative judges are in the majority — said it will hear arguments in March with a decision to be issued before the court session ends 30 June.

Two of the five conservative justices on the nine-member court — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — were appointed by Trump, who made a fortune in real estate before running for president in 2016.

An SC ruling in the case would come less than six months before Americans go to the polls in November.