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As Democrats target Trump's tax returns, audit claims loom large

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By David Morgan

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Releasing 33 years at one time may seem extreme, but Bill and Hillary Clinton's tax returns are public back to 1977.

https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-releases-eight-years-of-tax-returns-120882

It should be a law.

If a law had been in place that all candidates must submit a certain number of years of Federal and State (where applicable) returns prior to joining any race for elected office, we would not be dealing with Trump today. He simply would never voluntarily let America and the world see the truth about his finances.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It should be a law.

Fully agree.

Trump has used his White House to interfere in the market far more than any other US politician I'm aware of.

He's targeted specific corporations, making me wonder if he has shares in some of them or their rivals.

Given his history as a dirty businessman, it's impossible for me to have even the slightest sense that he's above board. Or that his family members are. (How have Jared and Ivanka's businesses in China been doing?) Or is business associates. At least those that haven't been arrested. Yet.

Show your current tax info Trump. What are you hiding?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Fully agree.

Trump has used his White House to interfere in the market far more than any other US politician I'm aware of. 

What?

He's targeted specific corporations, making me wonder if he has shares in some of them or their rivals. 

But you never said a word about the IRS targeting and auditing conservatives back in 2011 taking them out of the race, why is that?

Given his history as a dirty businessman, it's impossible for me to have even the slightest sense that he's above board. Or that his family members are. (How have Jared and Ivanka's businesses in China been doing?) Or is business associates. At least those that haven't been arrested. Yet.

Show your current tax info Trump. What are you hiding?

Sigh, partisan politics again.....get the President’s tax return and let’s skip over the dirty financial games of Democrats a list too large to list. Seems like the only Democrat that takes the Chinese threat seriously is Schumer...which is actually remarkable given how lethargic he is towards everything else.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

It should be a law.

Yep. 100%.

100% hand-over to a blind trust of all investments should also be law. Basically, the President's investments should be only in USA companies or USA bonds.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

@bass

Why are you so up in arms about Trump's tax secrecy? Almost every president in the past 40 years has released their taxes to the public. Of course he doesn't legally have to but, when he signed for the returns, he swore under penalty of perjury that the info was correct. So, in theory, there is really no reason why he should be so worried about it going public. Like you said yesterday, he is so loaded that he's set for life. No need to worry about future business plans. Those are the duties of his children now. What's the big deal?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@bas4 But you never said a word about

When Trump supporters deflect, it's a pretty clear indication they're unable to support him.

Sigh, partisan politics again

Says a hyperpartisan.

let’s skip over the dirty financial games of Democrats 

When Trump supporters deflect, it's a pretty clear indication they're unable to support him.

Deflection is an admission of inability to defend, a positive first step along the road to recovery from being a member of Cult45.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I'm just saying, politcal standing aside, why are people so protective of Trump's tax returns? It's as if people are worried that it will contain information they don't want to see. I think any President should be happy to share that information, as it would bring them closer to the people, that they pay their taxes like everyone else, in a legal American way.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Why are you so up in arms about Trump's tax secrecy?

I'm not, but that doesn't mean that I can't comment about the partisan tactics of loons like Spliff and Sawtelle.

Almost every president in the past 40 years has released their taxes to the public. Of course he doesn't legally have to but, when he signed for the returns, he swore under penalty of perjury that the info was correct. So, in theory, there is really no reason why he should be so worried about it going public. Like you said yesterday, he is so loaded that he's set for life. No need to worry about future business plans. Those are the duties of his children now. What's the big deal?

I would agree if the Democrats were so vindictive and overly obsessed with this. Also, getting Trump's tax returns won't keep the country any safer, put food on the table, take care of our vets, update our crumbling infrastructure, so if I were Trump, I would do everything in my power to to stop it and to be fair, I felt the same when the Republicans did the same thing about wanting to see Obama's birth certificate.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I would agree if the Democrats were so vindictive and overly obsessed with this. Also, getting Trump's tax returns won't keep the country any safer, put food on the table, take care of our vets, update our crumbling infrastructure, so if I were Trump, I would do everything in my power to to stop it and to be fair, I felt the same when the Republicans did the same thing about wanting to see Obama's birth certificate.

Building a wall won't put food on the table, keep the country safe, take care of our vets, update our crumbling infrastructure either. But I didn't bring those things up. It's a simple thing that would be over in a matter of seconds, and then we would have less democrats being "vindictive and overly obsessed" over his taxes. That's what you want, isn't it?

Also, a birth certificate and tax returns are two immensely different things. He released it as well. Getting Trump's tax information will just get people to move on right? Like when Obama released his birth certificate. That's what you want, isn't it?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The point is, Trump's tax information probably won't change a thing. But it will be one less thing for people to worry about, complain about, be "vindictive" about. So, political bias aside, I'm just wondering, why are people so "overly concerned" or "overly obsessed" with the continued confidentiality of Trump's tax returns? It would be a very simple thing to do. And then we could move on, right?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nobody here seems to offer any insight into why he shouldn't release the tax returns. Legally he isn't obligated to do so. I don't think he should be forced to either. But I think, playing the game he is, that is, being President, he should be honest with the American people. I think that should be a very important quality required by the President. If people wanna know about his taxes, he should be open about it. If people wanna know about his talks with Putin, he should be open about it, unless it jeopardizes classified intel of course. He prides himself in "transparency" all the time, but this isn't one of those times I guess.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Building a wall won't put food on the table, keep the country safe

But it will keep you and your family safe, I mean, you have a door, do you not? I have a door, gates, locks and a dog and guns, at the very least, most of us that own a home have locks, so by your argument, we don't need locks or gates, even the Romans had gates, walls and locks.

, take care of our vets, update our crumbling infrastructure either.

Then asking for his tax returns is not really necessary.

The point is, Trump's tax information probably won't change a thing.

Bingo!

Nobody here seems to offer any insight into why he shouldn't release the tax returns. Legally he isn't obligated to do so. I don't think he should be forced to either. But I think, playing the game he is, that is, being President, he should be honest with the American people. I think that should be a very important quality required by the President. If people wanna know about his taxes, he should be open about it. If people wanna know about his talks with Putin, he should be open about it, unless it jeopardizes classified intel of course. He prides himself in "transparency" all the time, but this isn't one of those times I guess.

To a point. I agree, but given the fact that the Democrats main mission is to get Trump out of office and with the everyday drama and barrage of attacks pitted against him, why would Trump allow his tax returns to be released so that they could come at him harder when they tried every other trick in the book on a minute to minute basis? I mean, Trump sneezes, we need to launch an investigation, it's just so ridiculous now, so if I were Trump at this point and time I would do my best to not show them either.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

getting Trump's tax returns won't keep the country any safer, put food on the table, take care of our vets, update our crumbling infrastructure

You can't know that. If it's found out that Trump owes everything he has to Russia, then it will be quite clear why he is in Putin's back pocket. Getting the leader of the country out of a foreign enemy's leader will make the country safer, will leave it with more money (instead of Trump diverting it to his Russian interests), which will allow the country to take better care of vets, and update crumbling infrastructure.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

But it will keep you and your family safe, I mean, you have a door, do you not? I have a door, gates, locks and a dog and guns, at the very least, most of us that own a home have locks, so by your argument, we don't need locks or gates, even the Romans had gates, walls and locks.

I'm not sure this is a good analogy. Houses are broken into every day. The walls of a house cover all surfaces, front to back, left to right, top to bottom. We already have gates at the border. So we don't need housing or walls or doors or locks after a wall is built between Mexico and the US? We can just live outside, cause its safe? Or we can get rid of guns, doors, and locks, because its safe?

Also, you have guns in Japan?

Then asking for his tax returns is not really necessary.

I'm very confused by this statement.

I mean, Trump sneezes, we need to launch an investigation, it's just so ridiculous now, so if I were Trump at this point and time I would do my best to not show them either.

Why not let them then, there is nothing for him to hide, right? You have to admit, it would probably get democrats to be much more flexible with Trump and things could progress a little bit more smoothly.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

You can't know that.

Won't make the country any safer, but we shall see, I just hope the President with his new lawyer will exhaust every avenue to block it, he should fight it every single step of the way.

I'm not sure this is a good analogy. Houses are broken into every day.

Sure, but the point is, you do have a wall, gate, fence to keep these forces out. George Soros has a wall, Nancy has a wall, Barbara Streisand has a wall, Madonna has a wall and back in 1999 when someone tried to scale it, he got shot, so walls and fences do work, if they didn't, we wouldn't have it and the Dems would have never supported it back in 2013.

I'm very confused by this statement.

Why? Walls, block, protect and defend, ask any rich person or ask Israel? And when it comes to crime and terrorism I would trust the IDF, Mossad in a country where violence is an everyday prescience over any liberal political hack.

Why not let them then, there is nothing for him to hide, right? You have to admit, it would probably get democrats to be much more flexible with Trump and things could progress a little bit more smoothly.

LA alone has over 12 million illegals and judging by how fast it's becoming a third world impoverished City, it's not a surprise at all that so many people are leaving it.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

It seems even Trump supporters suspect Trump’s tax returns are toxic but they don’t care.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@bas4 No, it does, people are tired of the high taxes,

Especially the working and middle classes who know the ruling class elite pay little relative to them.

the open borders

There are NO OPEN BORDERS. That LIE persists only in the minds of partisan extremists.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

JimizoToday  12:20 pm JST

It seems even Trump supporters suspect Trump’s tax returns are toxic but they don’t care.

That was my point, until bass turned it into a conversation about homeless in CA and rich people who don't care about them for some strange reason...I suspect LSD.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It seems even Trump supporters suspect Trump’s tax returns are toxic but they don’t care.

Imagine if Obama had tried not disclosing his tax returns? The same people defending Trump would be losing their $hit.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

It seems even Trump supporters suspect Trump’s tax returns are toxic but they don’t care.

Imagine if Obama had tried not disclosing his tax returns?

I can remember the birther trashmongers still going nuts after he released his birth certificate.

What these boneheads would have been doing if he had broken his promise to release his tax returns boggles the mind.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It's elementary school style, "I know you are but what am I" tactics...

It goes both ways.

The issue here is not about selective barrier built in 2013, but rather is a multi-billion dollar wall merited to be built along the entire US-Mex border from now on. Why is it hypocritical for Democrats to support selective barrier along high profile areas that have already been built but not funding for a wall that will cost more than 25 billion to build, with yearly maintenance fees, and no guarantee for effectiveness.

But the problem is they’re not supporting anything and they keep saying they do, but they never go into detail as to what that exactly is. I don’t think I’m asking much to know what that is.

I'm not and wasn't talking about California.

I was and that’s where the crux of the problem is, by the way, along our southern border we just had a major bust the other day. Exactly to my point, we need a wall, a barrier, a Kitty colored fence whatever euphemism makes the Democrats say, yes.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Especially the working and middle classes who know the ruling class elite pay little relative to them. 

> *There are NO OPEN BORDERS**. That LIE persists only in the minds of partisan extremists.*

Uh-huh...sure...

https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/06/24/the-worlds-most-dangerous-borders/

back in 2001

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/05/world/mexico-s-open-southern-border-lures-migrants-headed-to-us.html

The ludicrous notion to say that there aren’t open borders is equivalent to saying Obama is a secret Republican. Come on now.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

If the Congress will not act, states, especially swing states, must pass laws requiring disclosure of taxes in order to appear on the ballot to run for any elective office.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If the Congress will not act, states, especially swing states, must pass laws requiring disclosure of taxes in order to appear on the ballot to run for any elective office.

@Crazy

Relax guy, Knowing or not knowing Trump’s taxes won’t ruin your life, it’s not that bad. Lol

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

if I were Trump at this point and time I would do my best to not show them either.

Trump has been refusing to release his tax returns since before he was elected president. It's not the Dems' fault. He's got something to hide.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The ludicrous notion to say that there aren’t open borders is equivalent to saying Obama is a secret Republican. Come on now.

You got that backwards. Saying that Democrats want open borders is like saying Obama is a secret Republican.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

As Democrats target Trump's tax returns

Good grief, don't the Dems have anything better to focus on? Like border security, trade, replacing the Obamacare debacle...

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Good grief, don't the Dems have anything better to focus on? Like border security, trade, replacing the Obamacare debacle...

Yeah, what kind of moron wants to expose a treasonous president. Why isn't everyone trying to stifle this like the Pubs? You people are putting country above Sir Trump, aka God. Disgusting.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Good grief, don't the Dems have anything better to focus on?

Democrats shouldn’t have to focus on this. Trump said he would release them but he lied.

It’s like the Democrats fighting with Trump over funding for the wall. He said Mexico would pay for it but he lied.

Trump’s lies have caused terrible trouble. People on all sides should agree that he should have his feet held to the fire like any other lying politician.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Trump has been refusing to release his tax returns since before he was elected president. It's not the Dems' fault. He's got something to hide.

As in the famous words of the most notorious woman with nothing to hide..”what difference at this point does it make?”

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

You got that backwards. Saying that Democrats want open borders is like saying Obama is a secret Republican.

Given the fact that Obama sent a few back means, he is one, so what about the other lame Democrats excuse for not doing anything?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

As in the famous words of the most notorious woman with nothing to hide..”what difference at this point does it make?”

Seeing as he is the current leader of the USA, all the difference in the world.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Trump’s lies have caused terrible trouble. People on all sides should agree that he should have his feet held to the fire like any other lying politician.

What lies? By the way, you never say anything or worry about Dems lies or even money unless it’s a Republicans. But as radical and Marxist as they are I can see what the tax issue is so important to them, where as the border issue is not.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Go on, give us a argument for why he shouldn't release his taxes to the American people that doesn't involve Obama, what the dems did before, or illegal immigration.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@Serrano so what have republicans been doing the last 2 years they couldn't sort anything out and they controlled everything.

Like I've said before, too many RINOS.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Like I've said before, too many RINOS.

Then why did it take this long to panic and start legislating for a funding bill? You sure it didn't have anything to do with a democratic take over in house?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I thought this was an uncontroversial and defensible view, but the thumbs down tell me otherwise.

It's an entirely defensible view... here in reality.

Unfortunately we're dealing with those who are willfully living in the Unicornverse.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@jimizo

I think so too. I was asking, from an non political point of view, what they thought. And the answer I got was either "Obama did this" or "wall" or "california homeless" or "Dems said...".

3 ( +5 / -2 )

And the answer I got was either "Obama did this" or "wall" or "california homeless" or "Dems said..."

And 'I did post it 4 times before'.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

And the answer I got was either "Obama did this" or "wall" or "california homeless" or "Dems said..."

And 'I did post it 4 times before'.

And “non-partisan historians viewed the Bush2 presidency as a success”

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Perhaps you did mention

I did, Jim.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

So, what do you think about Trump lying about releasing his tax returns?

He hasn't lied. He said he would release them when Hillary releases her 33,000 emails. I've reminded ya'll about this several times now, lol.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I did, Jim

Nope. There is nothing regarding the question of Trump saying he’d release his tax returns and then refusing to do so.

I think it must be in the same place as the links I asked for.

I think we’ll have to leave it at that.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nope.

Then you’re not looking properly.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Why would you be against seeing his taxes? Makes no sense to willfully remove yourself from that check/balance.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

If ya wanna be the leader of a whole country, the people ya govern deserve to know where your interests lie

This should apply to every country

3 ( +3 / -0 )

But you never said a word about the IRS targeting and auditing conservatives back in 2011 taking them out of the race, why is that?

This has been thoroughly debunked. Leaks were being targeted. You know, one of the many things you guys complain about.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You can't know that. If it's found out that Trump owes everything he has to Russia, then it will be quite clear why he is in Putin's back pocket. Getting the leader of the country out of a foreign enemy's leader will make the country safer, will leave it with more money (instead of Trump diverting it to his Russian interests), which will allow the country to take better care of vets, and update crumbling infrastructure.

Best me to it. What's the point anymore?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This has been thoroughly debunked. Leaks were being targeted. You know, one of the many things you guys complain about.

Only according to liberal pundits. Had the reverses happened the Democrats would have lit up like it would’ve been Christmas. But we get it, as liberals we can use EVER shady and underhanded tactic to get what they pretty much want

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

https://youtu.be/Dyse_aJWHp4

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Trump oozes corruption and criminality. The release of his tax returns becomes more inevitable the more he resists it. When it happens his kleptocracy will be be revealed.

In the meantime his supporters can keep pretending that he isn't a traitor.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

President Donald Trump's friends, family, advisers, and supporters have been celebrating the release of his 2005

2005 eh? Are you aware what year it is?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Nice link by the way @Serrano. You probably didn't read it though, seeing as it wasn't written in youtube.

"Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets," Trump Jr. told a real-estate conference in 2008. "We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia."

Who'd have known??

Maddow said Tuesday night that she thought the real story of the 2005 tax return was that it was leaked to a reporter at all, showing that Trump's tax returns are obtainable despite his assertions that they are under audit and therefore cannot be released.

"The only news out of this is that the White House CAN release the President's taxes, despite what campaign said," Mo Elleithee, a longtime Democratic operative, wrote on Twitter. "Which we all suspected."

Can't wait for the bits he doesn't want us all to see. Tee-hee etc

2 ( +4 / -2 )

2005 eh? Are you aware what year it is?

Sure. 2019.

Can't wait for the bits he doesn't want us all to see. Tee-hee etc

You're not going to see them because he's not legally required to disclose them. Plus Hillary is not going to release her 33,000 mails. Tee hee!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Trump oozes corruption and criminality. The release of his tax returns becomes more inevitable the more he resists it. When it happens his kleptocracy will be be revealed. 

In the meantime his supporters can keep pretending that he isn't a traitor.

And if that were to happen and “if it didn’t” show any of the crazy allegations the left are trying to accuse him of, you would apologize, right?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

And if that were to happen and “if it didn’t” show any of the crazy allegations the left are trying to accuse him of, you would apologize, right?

If it's shown we were wrong, I would acknowledge it.

I wouldn't go so far as to apologize to the birther though.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

SerranoToday 01:03 am JST

Oh my...

President Donald Trump's friends, family, advisers, and supporters have been celebrating the release of his 2005 tax return — which showed he earned $150 million that year and paid roughly $38 million in taxes — as a win for the president against his critics.

Can anyone whose comments are worth reading explain how this constitutes a "win" for the president?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Show your current tax info Trump. What are you hiding?

He's a cheat, a fraud and aa Russian collaborator - that's what!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

**President Donald Trump's friends, family, advisers, and supporters have been celebrating the release of his 2005 tax return* *

how about 2006~2018, especially the last 2 years hes been in office, thats what everybody wants to know

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You're not going to see them because he's not legally required to disclose them.

he is if hes suspected of using his position for financial gains, which is illegal.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

The Democrats approach could unleash Pandora's box that will see them never in Power for the foreseeable future. Trump probably does nothing illegal. But, what he does do, is also being done by the rest of the top 1%, and more importantly the top % of those who fund each of the respective Parties.... so if Trump is uncovered then they too will be uncovered - are they all willing to accept that ? if so, then the Swamp may have it's plug pulled big time, but not through actions of Trump...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You're not going to see them because he's not legally required to disclose them

You are if he's been doing something illegally. And then there's all that obstruction business.

Juvenile chortle etc.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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