Why were the Trump tax returns released to the public?

If I win the election I will gladly show my tax returns.

Donald Trump, 2016

Should Trump have released his tax returns as every other presidential candidate did? I think so, but there’s no law. He was within his rights to say no.

Should the House (Ways and Means Committee) have demanded and fought for those records? Yes. There was legitimate reason.

Should he have fought the House trying to get these returns. Legally, no. Tactically, yes, since of course they don’t paint a great picture.

Should the House have publicized the lack of mandated tax audits for Trump? Yes. There’s clearly something corrupt going on here, and that should get attention.

Should the House have released summaries of notable information found? Yes. Information like this deserves to be publicized.

Should the House release aspects of the taxes that are likely criminal, and forward these to law enforcement as appropriate? Yes.

Should the House have released the full tax returns? I’m less sure. What is the vital public interest here that overrides the right of a private citizen to hold on to their private information. Why does running for office mean that your financial life has to be made public? As noted above, there is no law about what candidates must release, only tradition.

I’m pretty sure I’m wrong about this, but not seeing it!

3 thoughts on “Why were the Trump tax returns released to the public?”

  1. “Why does running for office mean that your financial life has to be made public?”

    Simple – because your taxes can reveal whether you have a financial interest in the decisions you are making as a public servant. That conflict of interest is a major reason why the public should have access to the taxes of major politicians. The 2nd reason is because, to paraphrase the man who inspired this tradition, “Americans have a right to know if their President is a crook!” (in this case, a tax cheat)

  2. 1) Thanks!
    2) Yes, I agree. Not a good reason to potentially violate law, but realistically appropriate.
    3) Let’s go further. I’d do this for all Senate and the House and Supreme Court and cabinet members as well.

    ….and would be nice to narrow in on what we are looking for. Potential conflicts and corruption is great. Charitable deductions seems beside the point. Perhaps we’d be better off with a law that called for certain financial disclosures to the public of major candidates, and left tax returns to the IRS.

  3. A few comments:
    1. Merry Christmas. I’m commenting on your blog. That is your gift.

    2. These are massive documents. The ways and means committee has no effective way of actually examining these thoroughly in a small amount of time remaining. After January, they would not come out. Releasing them to the public will allow any journalist to find things that likely are illegal, and could create pressure to legislate to fix these issues. That would create the “legitimate legislative purpose” in releasing the documents.

    3. I actually would be in favor of a federal law, only for the sitting president, that would require disclosure of tax returns. That person is in charge of an entire branch of government. The public deserves to know if there are conflicts or not, and if so, what they are. If there were, for example, only one judge on the Supreme Court, I think everyone would want to know that person’s tax returns as well.

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