New York

Three judges on a federal appeals panel appeared inclined Wednesday to reject arguments that President Donald Trump's tax returns can't be given to a New York grand jury because he is immune from state criminal law — even if he were to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue.

Chief Judge Robert A. Katzmann of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals told lawyers at the conclusion of nearly an hour of arguments that the panel believed the attorneys "may be seeing each other again in Washington."

The U.S. Supreme Court will likely have the last word on whether Trump can shield himself from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.'s efforts to explore the president's financial records since 2011, including his tax returns.

The hearing's most colorful exchange came when Judge Denny Chin confronted Trump attorney William S. Consovoy over what local authorities could do if Trump shot somebody on Fifth Avenue, a reference to a boast Trump made in January 2016 that doing so wouldn't cost him voters.

Consovoy said it was not a permanent immunity and that local authorities could act once a president was removed from office.

"Well, I'm talking about while in office," Chin said. "Nothing could be done? That's your position?"

Consovoy answered: "That is correct. That is correct. Yes."

Vance is conducting a probe that includes payments made to buy the silence of two women who claim affairs with the president before the presidential election.