Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is now on record saying that the American people should get to see President Donald Trump’s tax returns before the 2020 Election, according to two sources who work for Fox News.
Trump’s tax returns have been a subject of controversy since 2016 when he repeatedly promised to release them only to backtrack after the election, meaning the American people did not get to see a president’s tax returns for the first time since former President Richard Nixon started the tradition in 1973.
All presidents have released tax returns since that time to assure the public that they have no conflicts of interest and that nothing illegal was afoot.
Trump, however, bucked that tradition by using the lame excuse that he was under audit by the IRS. The problem is that there’s nothing that prevents someone from releasing their tax returns even when they are being audited.
Democrats have been demanding Trump’s taxes for the last two years, and now they have requested the Department of the Treasury release them, setting the stage for a fight that will likely result in a subpoena and a court battle.
But Graham doesn’t think there should be a battle at all.
On Thursday, Graham surprisingly stated that he believes Trump should release his tax returns before the election.
Fox News producer Jason Donner quoted Graham directly.
Lindsey Graham says everyone running for president in 2020, including Trump, should release their tax returns: “That’s just my view, it’d be good for the country for, if you’re running for president in 2020, to release your tax returns.”
— Jason Donner (@jason_donner) April 4, 2019
And Fox News reporter Chad Pergram confirmed it a few minutes later.
Graham on if Trump should release his taxes In 2020 I think he should release your tax returns if you’re running for president..I think everybody should.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 4, 2019
Graham’s statement comes weeks after Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said he would also like to see Trump’s taxes.
Graham has been one of Trump’s top enablers and defenders, so this is definitely a refreshing statement to hear from him. Now we just have to wait to see if Trump lashes out at him and forces him to flip-flop.
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