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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Trump lawyer dismisses tax return demand | Trump lawyer dismisses tax return demand |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Donald Trump has the right to keep his tax returns private and Democrats' demands to see them are "harassment", a lawyer for the president has said. | |
| William Consovoy's statement hints at the shape of a possible future legal battle over the issue. | William Consovoy's statement hints at the shape of a possible future legal battle over the issue. |
| On Thursday a Congressional tax committee demanded to see six years of Mr Trump's returns, saying it was necessary to ensure accountability. | On Thursday a Congressional tax committee demanded to see six years of Mr Trump's returns, saying it was necessary to ensure accountability. |
| Unlike previous presidents, Mr Trump has refused to publish his tax details. | Unlike previous presidents, Mr Trump has refused to publish his tax details. |
| On Friday he said he believed that the law was "100% on my side". | On Friday he said he believed that the law was "100% on my side". |
| Mr Trump has maintained his business interests during his presidency, prompting questions about possible conflicts of interest. Questions also remain about his net worth, tax profile and past financial dealings. | Mr Trump has maintained his business interests during his presidency, prompting questions about possible conflicts of interest. Questions also remain about his net worth, tax profile and past financial dealings. |
| The Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in mid-term elections last year, giving them the ability to launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs. | The Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in mid-term elections last year, giving them the ability to launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs. |
| What did Trump's lawyer say? | What did Trump's lawyer say? |
| Mr Consovoy said the tax committee did not have a valid legislative reason to see Mr Trump's tax returns. | Mr Consovoy said the tax committee did not have a valid legislative reason to see Mr Trump's tax returns. |
| "His request is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech," Mr Consovoy said of tax committee chairman Bill Neal. | "His request is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech," Mr Consovoy said of tax committee chairman Bill Neal. |
| He said the request was a "misguided attempt" to politicise tax laws and could also end up interfering with audits. He said the US Treasury should not comply with the demand. | He said the request was a "misguided attempt" to politicise tax laws and could also end up interfering with audits. He said the US Treasury should not comply with the demand. |
| Mr Trump has in the past said that he is unable to release his tax returns because they were being audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). | Mr Trump has in the past said that he is unable to release his tax returns because they were being audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). |
| However the IRS has said that he could release the returns even if they are under audit. | However the IRS has said that he could release the returns even if they are under audit. |
| In February Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen suggested during testimony to Congress that Mr Trump's taxes were not under audit during the 2016 presidential campaign - when Mr Trump said they were. | In February Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen suggested during testimony to Congress that Mr Trump's taxes were not under audit during the 2016 presidential campaign - when Mr Trump said they were. |
| Mr Trump had not wanted to release the tax returns because the resulting scrutiny could have led to an audit and "he'll ultimately have taxable consequences, penalties and so on". | Mr Trump had not wanted to release the tax returns because the resulting scrutiny could have led to an audit and "he'll ultimately have taxable consequences, penalties and so on". |