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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 11 april 2019

Trump says he won’t deliver tax returns to Congress

By ANDREW TAYLOR and seeing his taxes and would said Wednesday. “I’ll let
JONATHAN LEMIRE do so again. you know fast.”
Associated Press “Remember, I got elected The request for Trump’s tax
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- last time — the same exact filings is but one of many
dent Donald Trump, facing issue,” Trump said. “Frankly, oversight efforts launched
a congressional deadline the people don’t care.” by Democrats after taking
for his administration to The president has told back the House in last fall’s
provide his tax returns, said those close to him that the midterms. Neal is relying on
Wednesday that he “won’t attempt to get his returns a 1920s-era law that says
do it” while he’s under au- were an invasion of his pri- the IRS “shall furnish” any
dit by the IRS. vacy and a further exam- tax return requested by the
Trump told reporters at the ple of the Democratic-led chairmen of key House and
White House that “I would “witch hunt” — like special Senate committees.
love to give them, but I’m counsel Robert Mueller’s Mnuchin told lawmakers
not going to do it while probe — meant to dam- that his department will
I’m under audit.” The IRS President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the age him. “follow the law” but hasn’t
says there’s no rule against South Lawn of the White House in Washington, before boarding Trump has repeatedly shared the department’s
subjects of an audit from Marine One helicopter, Wednesday, April 10, 2019. asked aides as to the sta- interpretation of the stat-
publicly releasing their tax Associated Press tus of the House request, ute.
filings. the end of the day. Trump dit and therefore could not and has inquired about The White House did not
Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., has broken with decades release his returns. But in the “loyalty” of the top of- respond to questions as
chairman of the House of precedent by not volun- recent weeks, he has add- ficials at the IRS, according to whether the president
Ways and Means Commit- tarily releasing his returns to ed to the argument, say- to one outside adviser who asked Mnuchin or the IRS
tee, has asked the IRS to the public. ing publicly and privately requested anonymity to head to intervene. The
turn over six years’ of the Trump’s position has long that the American people discuss private conversa- president’s outside attor-
president’s tax returns by been that he is under au- elected him once without tions ney also did not respond to
Treasury Secretary Steven a request for comment.
Mnuchin, who supervises The head of the IRS faced
the IRS, said Tuesday that questions from lawmakers
he’s not seeking direction for a second day on his re-
from the White House on sponse to Neal’s request.
whether to comply. He said “You are on the receiving
the department would like- end of a very aggressive
ly respond by Neal’s dead- political campaign by the
line but didn’t say whether Trump administration. ...
he would provide the re- It is your job, and your job
turns as demanded. alone, to respond to Chair-
Democrats don’t expect man Neal’s request,” Sen.
the department to comply, Ron Wyden of Oregon,
but they haven’t sketched the senior Democrat on
out their next steps. the Senate Finance Com-
Neal has adopted a me- mittee, told Commissioner
thodical approach to seek- Charles Rettig.
ing Trump’s returns. He has Wyden cited the impor-
the option of eventually tance of the IRS to be inde-
seeking to subpoena the pendent of political pres-
records or to go to court sure.
if the IRS does not comply, “We’re working on a re-
but it’s not clear he’ll adopt sponse with counsel and
a more confrontational ap- we will respond,” Rettig
proach just yet. said.
Neal’s initial letter, sent a Rettig had agreed with
week ago, didn’t lay out Democrats on Tuesday
any consequences for the that it’s primarily his deci-
IRS if it didn’t comply, and sion to make, though he
a spokesman said a likely reports to Mnuchin. “You
course would be a second, must be aware that we’re
more insistent, letter. a bureau of Treasury, and
“We intend to follow Treasury supervises us,” he
through with this,” Neal told Wyden.q