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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 7 May 2019

Treasury denies Democrats' request for Trump tax returns

them if he was not under
audit.
"What's unprecedented is
this secretary refusing to
comply with our lawful ...
request. What's unprec-
edented is a Justice De-
partment that again sees
its role as being bodyguard
to the executive and not
the rule of law," said Rep.
Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. "What's
unprecedented is an entire
federal government work-
ing in concert to shield a
corrupt president from le-
gal accountability."
But the president has told
those close to him that the
attempt to get his returns
was an invasion of his priva-
cy and a further example
of what he calls the Demo-
crat-led "witch hunt" — like
Mueller's Russia probe —
meant to damage him.
Trump has repeatedly
asked aides as to the status
of the House request and
has not signaled a willing
to cooperate with Demo-
crats, according to a White
House official and two
In this April 9, 2019, file photo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing
on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans close to the
Associated Press White House.
He has linked the effort to
By ANDREW TAYLOR and thorized to disclose the re- to comply with a subpoena to justify his claim that the the myriad House probes
JONATHAN LEMIRE Associ- quested returns and return for a full, unredacted copy panel has a potential legis- into his administration and
ated Press information." of special counsel Robert lative purpose. Democrats has urged his team to
WASHINGTON (AP) — He said the Justice Depart- Mueller's report. Fights with are confident in their legal stonewall all requests. He
Treasury Secretary Steven ment will provide a more other House panels are on- justification and say Trump also has inquired about the
Mnuchin has made it of- detailed legal justification going. is stalling in an attempt to "loyalty" of the top officials
ficial: The administration soon. "I will consult with counsel punt the issue past the 2020 at the IRS, according to
won't be turning President The move, which was ex- and determine the appro- election. one of his advisers.
Donald Trump's tax returns pected, is sure to set in priate response," Neal said The White House and the Trump has long told con-
over to the Democratic- motion a legal battle over in a statement Monday. president's attorneys de- fidants that he was under
controlled House. Trump's tax returns. The Neal originally demanded clined to comment on audit and therefore could
Mnuchin told Ways and chief options available to access to Trump's tax re- the deadline to turn over not release his taxes. But in
Means Committee Chair- Democrats are to subpoe- turns in early April under a Trump's returns. recent weeks, he has add-
man Richard Neal, D-Mass., na the IRS for the returns or law that says the IRS "shall Mnuchin has said Neal's ed to the argument, telling
in a Monday letter that the to file a lawsuit. Last week, furnish" the returns of any request would potentially advisers that the American
panel's request "lacks a Neal promised "we'll be taxpayer to a handful of weaponize private tax re- people elected him once
legitimate legislative pur- ready" to act soon after top lawmakers, including turns for political purposes. without seeing his taxes
pose" as Supreme Court Monday's deadline. the chair of the tax-writing Trump has privately made and would do so again,
precedent requires. Treasury's denial came the Ways and Means Commit- clear he has no intention of according to the three
In making that determina- same day that the House tee. turning over the much-cov- White House officials and
tion, Mnuchin said he re- Judiciary panel scheduled He maintains that the com- eted records. He is the first Republicans, who were not
lied on the advice of the a vote for Wednesday on mittee is looking into the ef- president since Watergate authorized to speak public-
Justice Department. He whether to find Attorney fectiveness of IRS manda- to decline to make his tax ly about private conversa-
concluded that the Trea- General William Barr in con- tory audits of tax returns of returns public, often claim- tions and spoke on condi-
sury Department is "not au- tempt of Congress for failing all sitting presidents, a way ing that he would release tion of anonymity.q