Washington — The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to block the Treasury Department from turning over several years of former President Donald Trump's tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, clearing the way for Democrats to obtain the records weeks before Republicans take control of the House in January.

The latest order from the full court dissolves an interim stay issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees emergency matters arising from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, that kept the House panel from obtaining Trump's records. There were no noted dissents.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday applauded the decision, saying the "documents are vital to meeting the House's Constitutional mandate: guarding the public interest, defending our national security and holding our public officials to account."