With nine days left in the election, Donald Trump and his campaign have made it clear that he will continue to buck long-standing precedent and keep his tax returns hidden from American voters. Governor Mike Pence and Kellyanne Conway were both confronted with their candidate’s refusal to disclose his returns on this morning’s Sunday shows, where they confirmed that Americans shouldn’t hold their breath for the returns to be released. Just as further reporting reveals how little Trump gives to charity despite his bold promises, he continues to reject transparency of his own charitable giving by refusing to let the returns see the light of day.
On Meet the Press, Pence was held to account for Trump’s latest tax returns, which were likely filed on October 17. Trump himself promised to release these returns “as soon as they’re complete.”
CHUCK TODD: On October 17, Donald Trump had to turn in his tax return this year. Is he going to release it to the public before the election?
MIKE PENCE: I think as soon as the audit is —
CHUCK TODD: There’s no audit on this return yet. They don’t make these decisions that fast.
MIKE PENCE: He will release all of his tax returns when the final audit is completed.
CHUCK TODD: Not before the election?
MIKE PENCE: Yeah, look, the American people are focused on security and prosperity, on repealing Obamacare, having a supreme court that upholds our constitution, a strong military, that’s why Donald Trump will be the next president of the united States.
Disclosing Trump’s tax returns is a critical step toward allowing voters to make an informed choice, as they could shed light on a number of issues, including Trump’s questionable contributions to charity.
Huffington Post: It’s All But Official: Donald Trump Won’t Release His Tax Returns: “Trump has been under constant pressure to make his tax returns public, both because not doing so would be a sharp break from prior practice and because there are a number of questions surrounding his finances and charitable giving.”
Washington Post: Trump boasts about his philanthropy. But his giving falls short of his words: “It is impossible to know for certain what Trump has given to charity, because he has declined to release his tax returns.”
To date, voters have only gotten a small glimpse into his 1995 tax returns, which showed he might’ve avoided paying federal income taxes for nearly 20 years. Trump first didn’t deny he hasn’t paid federal income taxes, saying not paying taxes makes him “smart,” and then appeared to confirm that he didn’t pay for many years.
CNBC: “Donald Trump said he’s ‘smart’ by not paying income taxes — and argued that if he did, the money would be ‘squandered.’ Trump’s jaw-dropping statements came after Hillary Clinton launched a fiery attack on the Republican presidential nominee for breaking a four-decade tradition of White House aspirants releasing their federal income tax returns.”
Leaders from the left, right and center have, for months, called on Trump to release his tax returns, yet he still refuses:
The Detroit News: Poll: 72% of Mich. voters want Trump to release taxes: “Nearly three-in-four likely Michigan voters believe Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump should adhere to four decades of tradition and publicly release his income tax returns before the Nov. 8 election, according to a new statewide poll.”
Tax Policy Center: Why Trump should release his tax returns: “Yesterday, former IRS Commissioner Fred Goldberg (who held top tax positions in the administrations of both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush) urged Donald Trump to release at least the Form 1040 and Schedule A of his recent tax returns. It increasingly appears that Trump won’t. But he should.”
Boston Globe Editorial Board: Release your tax returns, Mr. Trump: “Time’s up, Donald. The GOP nominee needs to release his tax returns — like, today — or else voters will rightly conclude that the suggestions in Sunday’s blockbuster New York Times article are true: Trump didn’t pay income taxes for years, and was able to get away with it because he’d lost such vast amounts of money in his casino, hotel, and airline ventures.”
Huffington Post: Even Donald Trump’s Supporters Are Telling Him To Release His Tax Returns: “Donald Trump’s critics have been calling for months on the Republican presidential candidate to release his tax returns, to no avail. Now, even Trump supporters are joining the chorus. Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), a professed Trump backer (for now), wrote a Sunday New York Times op-ed titled, ‘I Support You, Donald Trump. Now Release Your Tax Returns.’”
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Tim Kaine mentioned a big story in the Washington Post that found, and I’m quoting here, the Post found that, “Donald Trump’s personal giving has almost disappeared entirely in recent years after calling 420 plus charities with some connection to Trump. The Post found only one personal gift between 2008 and the spring of 2009. They call into question all of the promises he’s made about giving to charity. Will Mr. Trump finally come forward, release his tax returns and show what he’s given?
KELLYANNE CONWAY: Not until our accountants and lawyers say we should.