(Image source from: Forbes)

The re-election campaign of President Donald Trump and Republican Party are suing California over the latest legislation that requires presidential candidates to file tax returns to stand in primary elections.  

The law was signed last week by Governor of California Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

According to a report by BBC, the plaintiffs, in two lawsuits, said it was unconstitutional as it added an extra requirement to run for president. Trump has turned down to release his tax returns, saying that they are under audit.

Though other countries under Democratic control have tried to succeed in passing such a law, California is the first state to make it happen. The law would not be applicable to general election.

California thus far is involved in more than 40 lawsuits against the Trump White House on issues such as immigration and environmental regulation.

In the first lawsuit, the Republican National Committee said the law was "a naked political attack against the sitting president of the U.S." It argues that the law would "directly impede" Trump's probabilities of gaining the Republican nomination. California provides 14 percent of delegates required to win.

Trump’s campaign second lawsuit argues that states do not have the power to supplement qualifications for president set out by the U.S. Constitution.

Currently, the presidential candidates need to meet only three requirements - to be natural-born citizens, resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years, and should be over the age of 35.

Trump's counsel, Jay Sekulow, described the law as an "attempt to circumvent the U.S. Constitution". He said voters had already spoken about whether Trump should release his tax returns.

Trump is the first major-party presidential candidate who didn’t release any tax returns since Republican Gerald Ford in 1976.

By Sowmya Sangam