
Source: DON EMMERT / Getty
After years of ducking and dodging the American people by refusing to reveal his recent tax returns, it looks like President Donald Trump’s time may finally be up.
According to NPR, on Wednesday Massachusetts Democrat Richard Neal, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is requesting six years of Trump’s personal tax returns and the returns for some of his businesses for the years 2013-2018.
“We have completed the necessary groundwork for a request of this magnitude and I am certain we are within our legitimate legislative, legal, and oversight rights,” Neal wrote in a statement about the request.
Neal added that this move was bipartisan and more about “policy, not politics.”
“My actions reflect an abiding reverence for our democracy and our institutions, and are in no way based on emotion of the moment or partisanship.”
When y’all president was asked about the request on Wednesday evening, of course he claimed that he was “not inclined” to adhere to Neal’s request and that his taxes are still under audit, which in his head means he doesn’t have to hand them over to the public.
Clearly, not wanting to share one’s tax returns is suspicious, given that every president in the last 40 years, including President Nixon, has offered up those receipts.
The president’s critics believe that Trump’s tax returns will reveal corruption in his personal and business finances. That, and perhaps he’s not the billionaire he claims to be.
It’s unclear what will happen next, but we do know that the Trump appointed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers last month that the Treasury will “follow the law” and review any request, Yahoo News reported.
Meanwhile, folks on Twitter had a lot to say about this newest development and what this could mean for #45.
Top House Democrat Officially Requests That Ya’ll President Run Him Them Shady Tax Returns was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
1.
Congress: “We’re going to need a copy of the President’s tax returns from 2013-2018.”
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 3, 2019
45: “No, I’m ‘under audit.’ ”
Congress: “We didn’t ask you.”
🧾💅🏽 https://t.co/2Q4kqpQ0Lf
2.
Trump says his tax returns for the last 10 yrs are under audit. His lies made him admit to a crime.
— Kurt "Masks Save Lives" Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) April 3, 2019
Audits only go back three years. The IRS goes back further if they find a “substantial irregularity.” They rarely go back more than 6. Trump is at 10? Lies or criminal. Or both.
3.
If poor, black farmers have to endure frequent audits, Trump should be subjected to the same tax scrutiny: https://t.co/m2ByW7M4iL https://t.co/yDQwfdfEZj
— MF MOCK (@brentinmock) April 3, 2019
4.
Eight years after Trump promised to release his tax returns,
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 3, 2019
Four years after he announced his campaign,
Three years after he claimed he had to wait for an audit,
Two years after he took office,
The House Ways and Means Committee has finally requested Trump’s tax returns. pic.twitter.com/w91QSNQqbo
5.
Trump is so scared of the Mueller report being made public, you’d think it was his tax return.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 3, 2019
6.
A young bartender who is about to read your tax returns https://t.co/Fp4ktykStu
— Dr. Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) April 3, 2019
7.
— Chriss (@currcl) April 3, 2019
8.
Two Words:
— Ryan Hill (@RyanHillMI) April 3, 2019
TAX RETURNS 😊
9.
Why don’t presidential candidates release their tax returns as quickly as they release their fundraising totals?
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) April 3, 2019
10.
— Robin Heater (@Tishara72) April 3, 2019
11.
I want fifty years of Trump's tax returns, but it's a start https://t.co/lxhANMDf9a
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) April 3, 2019
12.
— 🇺🇸Natalie ✊ (@natti_p07) April 3, 2019