Exclusive: Key House Democratic chairman requests Trump's tax returns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

So you are comparing the American public to children and Trump to their father? Yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

So you are comparing the American public to children and Trump to their father? Yuck.

No, I’m comparing you to a child that can’t accept the word no. Don’t like it? Too bad, still no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

Except the law mandates the Congressional request, no matter how much or the President don't like it. "SHALL GIVE" is pretty explicit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

Yes there is:

26 U.S. Code § 6103

The law mandates that the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" the tax returns of any individual for private review by the chairmen of the House and Senate tax committees.


It is a pretty straight forward no matter what your layperson opinion thinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

Yes there is:

26 U.S. Code § 6103

The law mandates that the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" the tax returns of any individual for private review by the chairmen of the House and Senate tax committees.


It is a pretty straight forward no matter what your layperson opinion thinks.

That law says the IRS "shall furnish" the returns, not the individual. Try again. There is no law requiring a person to show their returns.


They are also saying they need them "as part of the Ways and Means Committee’s oversight of “the extent to which the I.R.S. audits and enforces the federal tax laws against a president.” Based on that statement, they might get his 2017 and 2018 at most. Before that, he was not a president, it does not apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

So you are comparing the American public to children and Trump to their father? Yuck.

No, I’m comparing you to a child that can’t accept the word no. Don’t like it? Too bad, still no.

Looks awfully suspicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

So you DON'T believe in transparency in politics. Got it. That's the way a dictatorship runs, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

So you are comparing the American public to children and Trump to their father? Yuck.

No, I’m comparing you to a child that can’t accept the word no. Don’t like it? Too bad, still no.

Looks awfully suspicious.

EVERYTHING about him looks "awfully suspicious" to people like you. It's boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

So you are comparing the American public to children and Trump to their father? Yuck.

No, I’m comparing you to a child that can’t accept the word no. Don’t like it? Too bad, still no.

Looks awfully suspicious.

EVERYTHING about him looks "awfully suspicious" to people like you. It's boring.

You can see my tax returns. i've got nothing to hide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

So you DON'T believe in transparency in politics. Got it. That's the way a dictatorship runs, but whatever.

I believe laws apply to everyone, you do not get to pick and choose who they apply to. If you don’t like it, change the law. That’s how it works.

[Anonymous]

Neal's request for Trump's tax returns
Here is what I told a reporter about this issue:

This is not an issue on which there is any possibility of reasonable disagreement. Any well-informed person who disagrees either that the Ways and Means Committee has an obligation to demand Trump's tax returns as part of fulfilling its oversight duties, or that he is legally obliged to turn them over, is self-exposed as a partisan hack who has contempt for the rule of law.

Trump has credibly been accused of engaging in criminal activity for decades. It's undisputed that he is still profiting from his businesses. There is substantial information in the public record suggesting that he is for sale (or subject to blackmail) and that many of his public policy decisions have been made for corrupt reasons. The tax returns may help to provide information that sheds light on his motives and incentives. It's an indispensable part of Congressional oversight, and Republicans as well as Democrats in the Congress ought to recognize this (and in private probably do, whether or not they care).

All this is even leaving aside the law that would be quite clear in favor of the request even if all of the above evidence of criminality, corruption, and improper motives were not so powerful.

It's perfectly obvious that business tax returns as well as individual ones are a necessary part of the oversight here. I don't know why the particular ones were selected, and I would think that casting the net far more broadly (e.g., all Trump businesses, and all tax returns for the last 20 years) would have been well within reasonable oversight.

Any judge who votes or rules against this request does not belong on the federal courts. Such a judge would conclusively show that he or she cares more about partisan advantage than about transparency, honest government, and the rule of law.

http://danshaviro.blogspot.com/2019/04/oneals-request-for-trumps-tax-returns.html


Dan Shaviro is a tax expert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume it shows he’s not as wealthy, so? Will he suddenly not be President? Will he suddenly not be married? What’s the big moment you expect?

No to all of the above. So why is he so afraid to release his taxes?

Maybe because he just does not have to, maybe it’s that simple. There is no rule that a candidate has to disclose them, so he doesn’t want to. I swear it’s like telling a 5 year old they can’t have a cookie. "But why not?’ Because I said no.

That's a big "maybe". Or maybe it's something much more sinister. This is a legitimate concern.

Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s nothing like the mueller report.

Just because you think there must be something there, doesn’t mean there is. He said no you can’t see them, he is allowed to say that. Throwing a tantrum doesn’t help.

Can I see your returns?

DP but is the PP running for president? If so I think we should all get to see her tax returns. If not then none of our business.

That's the way transparency in politics works. Or is supposed to work. Trump obviously has things he is trying to hide from the American public. What are they?

It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

So you DON'T believe in transparency in politics. Got it. That's the way a dictatorship runs, but whatever.

I believe laws apply to everyone, you do not get to pick and choose who they apply to. If you don’t like it, change the law. That’s how it works.

Hate to break it to you but Trump thinks he and his family are above the law. Why do you think he regularly stiffs contractors? Why was his university deemed fraudulent? Why do you think he overrules so many denials of security clearance for his own family and close cohorts with problematic background checks? Why do you think he tried to get away with campaign finance violations with regard to paying off a porn star?

Oh and many states are in fact trying to change the law with regard to forcing presidential candidates on the ballot to make their tax returns public. Transparency is essential for a democracy to endure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


It’s not relevant if the PP is running for President. There is no law stating he has to disclose his returns, it’s the same law that applies to the PP and You. You can "want" to see them all you’d like, and I can "want" to see yours. You can say no under the current laws, so can he.

Yes there is:

26 U.S. Code § 6103

The law mandates that the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" the tax returns of any individual for private review by the chairmen of the House and Senate tax committees.


It is a pretty straight forward no matter what your layperson opinion thinks.

That law says the IRS "shall furnish" the returns, not the individual. Try again. There is no law requiring a person to show their returns.


They are also saying they need them "as part of the Ways and Means Committee’s oversight of “the extent to which the I.R.S. audits and enforces the federal tax laws against a president.” Based on that statement, they might get his 2017 and 2018 at most. Before that, he was not a president, it does not apply.

Move the goalposts. Precedent is 6 years. That is what was requested. Yes, the Administration is fighting it. Yes it isn't the individual, it is the IRS. So why did Trump ask McConnell to expedite the new IRS Commissioner in February? Why is Mnuchin failing to honor the request? Is that okay with you?