EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Trump's attorney Jay Sekulow says Democrats pushing for the release of Trump's tax returns don't have a 'legitimate legislative purpose': 'It's not the law for the United States. We don't have a requirement that presidents do that'
Neal also asked whether any of them are or have been under audit, which the president routinely cites as his reason for not releasing his tax returns. Although it’s not required by law, most presidents since Richard Nixon have voluntarily released their tax returns, setting a precedent that Trump broke with during the 2016 election.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, he reiterated that he "would not be inclined to" release his tax returns until he’s not under audit by the IRS. "We're under audit, despite what people said. And we're working that out as -- I'm always under audit, it seems. But I've been under audit for many years because the numbers are big, and I guess when you have a name, you -- you're audited," Trump said. "But until such time as I'm not under audit, I would not be inclined to do that."
In a letter to the Treasury Department sent Friday, an attorney for Trump said the IRS "should refrain from divulging the requested information" until the Justice Department offers a formal opinion on the matter. "It would be a gross abuse of power for the majority party to use tax returns as a weapon to attack, harass, and intimidate their political opponents. Once this Pandora’s box is opened, the ensuing tit-for-tat will do lasting damage to our nation," Trump's tax attorney, William Consovoy, wrote to Treasury General Counsel Brent McIntosh.
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