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The White House might ask you to forget it now, but before and during the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to publish his tax returns.
In 2014, Trump said that he decided[s] to apply, I will file my tax returns. Absolutely. I would love to do that. In 2015, a few months before the launch of his presidential campaign, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt: "I would issue tax returns … I have no objection to any statements being made. revenues are presented.
The Trump candidate repeated this wish during the first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton, with a now familiar warning: "I am subject to a routine audit and it will be published. As soon as the audit is finished, it will be published. . "
Trump, of course, never followed. He continues to quote an audit that seems about to survive any of our natural lives as the reason he will not publish his tax returns. But now that the House Ways and Means Committee Chair, Richard Neal (D-MA) has officially asked the IRS to return them, the White House claims that Trump never said he would release them from all.
During an interview on Fox News SundayMick Mulvaney, White House acting chief of state, promised that the Democrats would "never see" Trump's tax returns, and called the issue "that has already been pleaded during the elections."
Mick Mulvaney gasps shamelessly over the fact that Trump repeatedly promised that he would issue his tax returns during the campaign
"It's a problem that was pleaded during the elections – the voters knew Trump could have given his tax returns, he did not, and they elected him anyway." pic.twitter.com/mWiprA6fc0
– Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 7, 2019
But that's not what Trump told the voters. He promised them to publish his statements, pending the completion of the audit, but he would not do it at all.
Not only did Mulvaney rewrite the story of Trump's past statements in his tax returns, but he downplayed the interest Americans have in seeing his statements. A poll conducted by Washington Post / ABC in January revealed that 60% of people wanted the new democratic majority in the House to do what it tries to do: get it.
The White House does not cooperate
The IRS regularly audits the tax returns of all presiding and sitting vice-presidents. Neal made his request to the IRS regarding Trump's tax returns to ensure that the government was doing its job.
"The IRS has a policy of verifying tax returns for all presiding and sitting vice-presidents, but the effectiveness of this program is poorly known," Neal wrote in a statement released after formally filing the income tax return. of Trump. "On behalf of the American people, the Ways and Means Committee must determine whether this policy is followed and, if so, whether these audits are conducted in their entirety and in an appropriate manner. In order to make this decision fairly, we need to obtain President Trump's tax returns and determine whether the IRS is fulfilling its responsibilities. "
Trump has already reported that he will not cooperate with Neal's request. On Friday, a lawyer representing the president, William Consovoy, sent a letter to the Treasury Department objecting to Neal's request on the grounds that "[i]It would be a blatant abuse of power for the majority party to use tax returns as a weapon to attack, harass and intimidate their political opponents. Once this Pandora's Box has been opened, the resulting damage will inflict lasting damage to our country. "
Unsurprisingly, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has already indicated that he would block the Democratic Party's efforts to obtain Trump's tax returns, which opens the door to legal action in the courts.
Mulvaney seems to reflect the feelings of other Republicans on this issue. During an interview Sunday Meet the pressSen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), a former Trump spokesman, described Neal's efforts as "stupid" and said it was "out of control."
WATCH: Senator Mitt Romney said, "I would like the President to follow and show his tax returns," but thinks the Democrats are blaming him badly. #IfItsSunday@SenatorRomney: "Tracking your tax returns with legislative action is silly, it will not happen" pic.twitter.com/ivKsCbL1RB
– Meeting with the press (@MeetThePress) April 7, 2019
Like Mulvaney, Romney's comments represented a reversal from the 2016 campaign when he claimed that Trump's tax returns likely contained a "bomb." after former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that the Republican have something to hide.)
"The reason I think there's a bomb in there is because every time he's asked about his taxes, he dodges, delays and says well, we're working on it," he said. Romney during an interview with Fox News in February 2016. think there is something there. "
The new advance quickly. To stay up to date, follow Aaron Rupar on Twitter, and read more Political and political coverage of Vox.
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