In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Richard Neal, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has denied the Committee’s request for President Trump’s tax returns, saying the request lacked a “legitimate legislative purpose.”
“As you have recognized, the Committee’s request is unprecedented, and it presents serious constitutional questions, the resolution of which may have lasting consequences for all taxpayers,” the letter read.
Mnuchin told the Massachusetts Democrat he relied on the advice of the Justice Department. He concluded that the department was “not authorized to disclose the requested returns and return information.”
Mnuchin’s letter continued, “The Department of Justice has informed us that it intends to memorialize its advice in a published legal opinion as soon as practicable. Out of respect for the deadlines previously set by the Committee, and consistent with our commitment to a prompt response, I am informing you now that the Department may not lawfully fulfill the Committee’s request.”
The Battle for Trump’s Tax Returns Continues
In the ongoing chess match for the release of the president’s tax returns that have been going on since he declared his candidacy, Mnuchin’s move was not unexpected. However, it is now sure to set in motion a legal battle over Trump’s tax returns. The likely options available to Democrats would be to subpoena the Internal Revenue Service for the returns or to file a lawsuit.
Neal originally demanded access to Trump’s tax returns in early April under a law that said the IRS “shall furnish” the returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers, including the chair of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
The White House and the president’s attorneys declined to comment on the deadline to turn over Trump’s returns. Trump already has signaled he has no intention of turning over the much-coveted records.
The president has long told confidants that he was under audit and therefore could not release his taxes. But in recent weeks, anonymous White House sources told the Associated Press that Trump has added to the argument, telling his advisers that the “American people elected me once without seeing my taxes and would do so again…”
I could care less what Trump papers say. If something is wrong, IRS will find it.
This crap has gone on to long. I don’t care what Trumps tax returns. Nobody I know cares about Trumps tax returns. The findings of the Mueller report seem clear. The democrats should put out their hair fire and get to work.
Kennedy, Eisenhower, Roosevelt DID NOT release their tax returns – So the liberal lie that Trump is the first President not to is just that – a lie (Fake News)
The president is absolutely right. His tax returns have nothing to do with his running the country. The Dems are just looking for something to replace his supposed collusion. The Dems want to waste the next two years hoping that the basket of deplorables gets too small to elect him again.
There is no legal or constitutional basis for Trump to allow this massive invasion of his privacy. Back when this practice was started by Nixon, it was a bad idea, but at least the disclosures by Nixon and those who followed were voluntary. If the Lefties want Trump’s returns, let them start by submitting their own first — starting with Pelosi, Shumer, Feinstein, and all the others who are screaming for them.
Now you want something with a constitutional basis? Let’s look at the Founders’ understanding of “natural born citizen,” which was to have been born on US soil to 2 parents who were both citizens. Want to subpoena docs? Start with requiring every candidate for president or VP to submit birth certificates for self and for his/her parents, and if the parents were foreign-born, to also submit naturalization papers showing that the parents acquired citizenship before the candidate was born. Know who that lets out? Obummer for starters, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal, and currently, Kamala Harris.
Dems, you wanna see docs, here’s where you start!