Trump's Taxes

The NY Times gets Trump's taxes from the late 80's and early 90's. He lost a lot of money, as we already knew from earlier reporting and one of his own books.

But the House Ways and Means request for Trump's recent returns is heating up! Here is a Times story and editorial.

The story is not as dreadful as the editorial and makes a half-hearted effort to present both sides of the dispute:

Mr. Mnuchin, who is one of Mr. Trump’s most trusted aides, has signaled his concern about the request, arguing that it appeared to be political in nature and that honoring the demand would be a violation of taxpayer privacy. He has warned that if the I.R.S. releases Mr. Trump’s returns, then lawmakers from both parties could be vulnerable to such prying. In an April 23 letter to Mr. Neal, Mr. Mnuchin said that the demand amounted to “exposure for the sake of exposure.”

The Treasury secretary said that the Justice Department would memorialize its advice on the matter in a published legal opinion.

House Democrats have argued that the law is clear that congressional tax writing committees have broad authority to request the returns of any taxpayer. Mr. Neal said that the request was made so that Congress can assess the effectiveness of the automatic audits that all sitting presidents face.

In his letter, Mr. Mnuchin said that the Treasury Department was willing to provide more information to the committee about how the I.R.S. conducts its mandatory examinations of presidential tax returns.

I say "half-hearted" because despite a link to the May 6 letter from Sec. Mnuchin to Chairman Neal, there is no link to the April 23 letter mentioned above. Too bad, and a disservice to any readers seeking information rather than affirmation, since it is a 52 page opus surely representing the first draft of the legal opinion promised by the DoJ.

 

Also omitted is an interesting parallel to a case with which The Resistance is undoubtedly familiar, Trump's "Muslim ban". There, it was argued (with early but not final success!) that the public record of Trump's comments should count against his textual statutory powers.

 

Turnabout being fair play, Sec. Mnuchin and the DoJ argue (Apr 23) that there is a voluminous public record making clear that the Democratic goal is the release of Trump's tax returns (probably protected by privacy laws), not, as Chairman Neal claimed, an attempt to assess the rigor and vigor of Presidential tax audits.

 

Also missing from the Times account (but not the Mnuchin letter) is the tidbit that Neal, prior to his chairmanship, acknowledged that a request for the President's returns would be a first, and the goal would be public exposure. Sadly, it is behind the WSJ paywall (I really need to put in a budget request) but here is a taste from The Week (my emphasis of phrase quoted by Mnuchin):

 

The Democrats in line to lead the Senate and House finance committees say that if their party takes control of either house of Congress in the midterms, they will use their authority to obtain a copy of President Trump's tax returns. "We will do that," Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), in line to chair the House Ways and Means Committee, told The Wall Street Journal. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a longer shot to become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he would request Trump's tax returns, too.

 

"Under the tax code, the Ways and Means chairman can demand and receive any taxpayer's records from the IRS for confidential review," explains the Journal's Richard Rubin. "Neal wouldn't need approval from the full House, the Senate, or the administration." Neal said if he gets Trump's returns, he'll consult with his staff, House lawyers, and Democratic leaders; they could decide to release some or parts of the returns, which would require a committee vote, keep them confidential, or have them analyzed by nonpartisan analysts. "This has never happened before, so you want to be very meticulous," Neal told the Journal.

 

The Resistance HQ editorial sidesteps all this by imagining the April 23 letter out of existence. Despite links to other other letters amongst IRS Commissioner Rettig, Chairman Neal and Sec. Mnuchin, there is no link to the April 23 letter. Instead, we are assured that

 

"The Treasury secretary cited no authority for this stonewalling..."

 

The courts will sort this out. The editorial does link to the underlying law as well as the Supreme Court decision on Watkins, which limited the reach of Congressional oversight, thereby enhancing the illusion that this is a thorough recap of the topic.

 

IMHO, further weaponizing the IRS is a dreadful idea in a country which relies so heavily on voluntary compliance with tax law. Personally, I wonder whether the Obama Administration went easy on tax audits of advisers such as Valerie Jarrett or big donors such as billionaire Episcopalian Tom Steyer. Or has Nancy Pelosi (who provides disclosure forms but not returns) been getting a pass from IRS auditors? Senate Republicans could get curious about this tomorrow, and it would be a disastrous abuse of government power if they did.

 

MORE: Unless they work up the nerve to commence impeachment, the law is against the House Democrats, argues this tax law prof. Bonus insight I read somewhere: House Judiciary can demand the returns in an impeachment context but has no legal avenue to release them. As if leaks never happen and wouldn't here...

Comments

[MissMarple2]

https://www.sebgorka.com/video/chinas-been-taking-us-for-a-ride-it-ends-now-because-my-father-is-president-eric-trump-with-sebastian-gorka-on-america-first/

This is a good interview. Eight minutes.

[Narciso79]

Will Noah schactman retract, is the Pope alsatian?

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/report-senior-irgc-commander-flees-iran-with-secret-intel/?fbclid=IwAR0EXBRHAGD6dWJcvoa9qkyiNYukaApRk1c_OJC9YgCRLSdOEDM8ovtoKsU

[Threadkiller]

That second one looked like WW2 footage, JMH.

[MissMarple2]

Stu Cvrk
‏ @STUinSD
32m32 minutes ago

I tell you one thing: if I was a North Carolinian, I would be on the horn every frickin' day to that a-hole Sen. Burr's office DEMANDING that he either rescind that DJTjr subpoena to appear before the Senate Intel Committee or resign from the Senate, & convince everyone to call!

[Beasts of England]

My buddy Spike finished the day at +1, tied for 40th place. Not a bad opening round... :)

[JM Hanes]

"My unsavvy, ignorant and illogical opinion is that the rules of what a responsible prosecutor should or should not do don’t apply to this obviously unique crisis in US history."

Wow, what happened to Mr. Law & Order Tom? How did he suddenly morph into Situational Ethics Guy?

[MissMarple2]

President Trump is committed to protecting patients and their families from surprise medical bills.

Hospitals and insurance companies will be held accountable by @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/E7EyCWkvtG

— Official Team Trump (@TeamTrump) May 9, 2019

Video at link. About one minute.

[Threadkiller]

Cashill:

https://www.wnd.com/2019/05/kamala-harris-has-blood-on-her-hands/

[MissMarple2]

Heading to bed.

Nytol!

[JM Hanes]

In case it's not obvious that I'm tidying up my desktop:

Beasts:

"As someone who's had a stoopid horse rub me into a barbed wire fence while quail hunting...."

Quail hunting (on horseback!) may be my favorite activity of all time, although it's been a few years since my ex and I used to spend time in South Georgia. It's one of the few times I've ever felt sorry for the best riders, because they always get stuck with making the worst horses play nice. Do you live in quail hunting territory, or do you have to travel to find the appropriate habitat?

[Tom R]

JMH @ 9:56

How about focusing on justice? Mueller proving Trump was innocent of the false allegations made by the Democrats means justice prevailed.

[Narciso79]

It was around that time that I started following the treehouse, back in 2012 although I think I relied on less Jones analysis.

[lurkersusie]

LIAR

@CNN
Anderson Cooper: "Do you think the Russians have leverage over President Trump?"

Former FBI Director James Comey: "I don't know the answer to that."

Cooper: "Do you think it's possible?"

Comey: "Yes."

#ComeyTownHall (link: https://cnn.it/2YhmRtp) cnn.it/2YhmRtp

[Tom R]

Scott Schools was the DOJ official in the room with Rosenstein, McCabe, Page and 3 other DOJ officials, who said Rosenstein’s comments about wearing a wire were sarcastic.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/rosenstein-joked-about-secretly-recording-trump-say-sources-n911981

[Narciso79]

Says the lookout for HSBC, the first or second player in money laundering Deutsche bank is probably the first

[sbwaters]

Quail hunting (on horseback!) may be my favorite activity

Horses, birds, and shotguns! What fun!

I’d be delighted to try it sometime.

I led a horse platoon in summer camp as a kid.
Even eagles are in our neighborhood.
I shoot skeet weekly.

[Beasts of England]

'Do you live in quail hunting territory, or do you have to travel to find the appropriate habitat?'

It's a long and (possibly) interesting story, JM Hanes, but I'll give you the short version. We used to hunt quail (and duck, dove and deer) at a prison in south Alabama - the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch. The warden's son worked for my father and that's how we got the invitation. It was a really big deal - hunting with Bear Bryant and other big wigs - but, one of the inmates took the ultimate revenge on the warden and his wife, and that was the end of that...

[sbwaters]

I counsel people who would dearly love to reduce the political and practical noise in their lives.

My answer is that their job is to balance their lives one day at a time and, along the way, defend themselves against those who would impose pseudo-beliefs on them.

A calm life is worth living, but defending against egregious intrusion is a duty.

I laugh at Democrats.

[JM Hanes]

Tom R:

As far as I'm concerned this is Justice delayed, and the Special Counsel's report is a travesty, notwithstanding his inability to establish a credible Presidential crime. At this point, I've explained where and why I disagree with you on Mueller and Rosenstein countless times, so I'm pretty much done on this discussion.

[clarice]

Between all this political nonsense and TP constantly signing me out, I've had it for tonight. Behave

[sbwaters]

Damn! I get pithy and Clarice leaves.

;-)

[Narciso79]

That's quite clear, you see the Tomlinson link, he probably wasnt as reckless as agee or the folks at boeheim but close.

[Dave (in MA)]

Behave

Ha, like that'll happen.

[Narciso79]

One too many whipeouts with a skateboard:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/05/06/beto-orourke-union-due-collective-bargaining-worker-fees-compensation-iowa-janus-afscme-asian-latino/1125291001/?fbclid=IwAR1fTssM5aBHXJq8haecYtDtIqYKJoqeyV6fZv101dtxktuokNjPNq61jQg

[Narciso79]

More details as to what he leaked:

https://dailycaller.com/2019/05/09/analyst-indicted-classified-drone/

Scahill is the one who created the Blackwater black legend

[Beasts of England]

'Behave'

Don't we always? ;)

[Tom R]

Here is the full Rosenstein tribute. Good stuff. Between Sessions and Barr I couldn’t tell who was the most genuine about their appreciation for Rosensteins patriotic service to his country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHTMARon-qk

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Clarice is channeling Austin Powers? Egad!

[clarice]

OMG--Blumenthal source of steele Dossier?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3MN1vJgOgQ&feature=share

[JM Hanes]

Beasts:

Sorry to hear that the story had a sad ending. I know exactly what kind of country you were hunting in. My ex and I took a trip put together by a little local arts organization, which involved traveling by bus, from south Georgia to New Orleans to see the King Tut show. We figured it would be a great way to get to know our in town neighbors! To make that long story short, I would drift off to sleep for an hour or two, and when I'd wake up and look out the window, it seemed like we hadn't even left home. I think it was the same flat, sandy land, with the same straight roads, pines, scrubby thickets, and oaks all the way across the south till we hit the Mississippi. Used to be some of the greatest wild quail hunting territory around.

[JM Hanes]

clarice:

Blumenthal... That's definitely enough to keep you up at night!

[Narciso79]

I thought for the second dossier, but I tell you how far sid vicious practices go back to phillip agee in the 70s, in his time at the Washington post in the early 80s he was going after neocons with relish as per his Soviet contacts concurred at the foreign ministry think tank dictated. He admitted that inspiration in one of his books about the 88 campaign, one of the earlier instances the dems lost their minds

[JM Hanes]

Clarice,

Looks like that'a an old YouTube though, from Feb 2018, so I'm guessing the Blumenthal lead didn't pan out.

[Beasts of England]

That sounds like a great trip, JM Hanes!! Of course, anything that ends with a potential meal at Galatoire's is primo... :)

Nytol

[Tom R]

55 transcripts of House Intel testimony getting released soon. I guess it’s another item in the growing list of coincidental timing with everything else coming out now.

https://twitter.com/themarketswork/status/1126531662228013056?s=21

[Narciso79]

Yes he is indeed a slithy tove, jm, in the 90s as a pretext to a claim against him that appeared in drudge he led a anioe hunt against John fund and Michael ledeen.

[Threadkiller]

That link says anonymous sources say that Scott Schools said.

That doesn't confirm your assertion.

[JM Hanes]

Yeah, Narciso,

He was neck deep in the whole Libya fiasco too. He is the human incarnation of Clinton slime.

[lurkersusie]

Add Grassley to the list.

Steven Dennis
@StevenTDennis
·
GOP Senators sticking up for Richard Burr:
BLUNT
SHELBY
COLLINS
RUBIO

[JM Hanes]

sbw:

I envy you your weekly skeet shoot! There only outdoor shotgun facility in the county closed years ago. I've got some land where I could do some shooting -- I just don't have a minion to pull the birds.

[Narciso79]

In 92 election he riffed on how Ross Perot's release of his Eds crew provoked the events in the future, and tried to cycle that charge against Bush sr re his heroic moment over chichijima

[Tom R]

JMH @ 10:27

Better to look it as the start of justice prevailing with the end coming after the Horowitz/Huber investigation finishes.

[lurkersusie]

No surprise here

Steven Dennis
@StevenTDennis
·
Also sticking up for Burr:
ROMNEY

[JM Hanes]

Comey says the FBI doesn't spy, according to the same guy who told us James Comey doesn't leak. Saw some clips of his two recent interviews, and I note that he has begun presenting himself as Dignified Mr. Decisive. So much for those dreamy Twitter photos.

[Dave (in MA)]

I hope a short guy punches him right in the junk.

[Narciso79]

Wait Grassley was the one who endeavoured to unravel this whole gordian knot.

[lurkersusie]

Except with Burr

Doug Andres
@DougAndres
.
@senatemajldr
: Dems are “on a path to try to turn America into a socialist country. We are not going to let that happen ... as long as I am Majority Leader of the Senate, I get to set the agenda. That's why I call myself the Grim Reaper.” 💀💀💀

[JM Hanes]

Tom R:

Better for whom? No sale here. I'm pinning my hopes on Barr, not Horowitz/Huber. I would love to be pleasantly surprised on that score, but you'll never hear me cutting Mueller any slack, because he hasn't earned any slack, imo. I also don't for one second believe that Horowitz and Huber represent the end game of necessary investigations.

[Narciso79]

Yes cocaine mitch got to get back on his own supply

[Dave (in MA)]

Tariff in 20 min.

[Narciso79]

Say what now?
https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Bristol-based-Pakistani-Christian-fears-death-if-deported

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

We're over 1,000 comments.
Help us, Obi-Tom ... you're our only hope!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

-- To resolve the crisis Trump needed Mueller to prove he was innocent of the Democrat allegations of colluding with Russia were false. That is exactly what Mueller did. --

I'd say that is largely what Mueller did, but Mueller undid some of that good work by leaving the obstruction question unnecessarily murky.
I understand you think that will ultimately prove a trap for the Dems but, regardless, it shouldn't have happened and it strains credulity and common sense to believe Mueller was secretly laying a trap for the Dems by leaving a cloud hanging over Trump's head.

[Dave (in MA)]

The Babylon Bee@TheBabylonBee

Ilhan Omar Blasts Israel For Refusing Palestine's Generous Gift Of Rockets

[Davod]

Test - last post can see is Narciso79 | May 08, 2019 at 12:44 PM

[Dave (in MA)]

That was the last post on page one. No ">>" at the bottom?

[Dave (in MA)]

(Of course, if he can't see past page one, what good did that comment do?)

[Narciso79]

Clearly time travel, was involved.

[Narciso79]

Theres an alternate reality where shes sane:

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChuckRossDC/status/1126660100477935616

[Narciso79]

I guess downer is still on retainer from haklyut

[GUS]

Lyle said it very well. MUELLER spent a SHIT LOAD of money and hired a PLETHORA UMPTEEN LIBTARD LAWYER FULL COMMIE HACKS, to investigate and then PROSECUTE TRUMP.
So solllly chahlllly, was NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
From the fucking GET GO, BIG BOB MUELLER KNEW, that this RUSSIA HORSE SHIT, was concocted by THE FULL COMMIE LEFT, and the EVIDENCE was PAID FOR BY RODHAM via, her campaign and her control of the DEMOCRAT NATIONAL COMMITTEE CASHISH. MUELLER is a biased LIFELONG GUBMINT SWAMP HACK. He is not without intellect, he is without ETHICS. Mueller KNEW FROM JUMP STREET that this DOSSIER, was GARBAGE. He KNEW that the FISA APP PROCESS had been as CORRUPT as could possibly be.
DESPITE KNOWING. KNOWING.... That the DOSSIER, FISA PROCESS, and anything to do with RODHAM was rancid, decomposing CRAP. He went on for 2 plus years, trying to make SOME BONES. MANAFORT.
Ok, if revisiting and completely attempting to DESTROY MANAFORT in RETROSPECT, for fucking IRS violations is FAIR GAME.

SO ARE THE 33,000 Deleted e-mails.
And "Like with a cloth?" The OBSTRUCTION of JUSTICE is obvious.

[Tom R]

Iggy @ 11:48

I'd say that is largely what Mueller did,

I think you and I are the only two people here who share that realization. It is also the only part of the Mueller SC that really mattered.

[Davod]

test now at Narciso79 | May 10, 2019 at 12:10 AM

[Narciso79]

Our hosts most recent tweet, concerns the dems attempt to breach what they consider a stonewall by the White House I say weirding modules might be used.

[Narciso79]

The fast and furious case suggests this matter night be resolved by 2024.

[GUS]

Ig, I don't believe that MUELLER proved TRUMP innocent of anything. The FULL COMMIES concocted the RUSSIA nonsense, 3 weeks before OPIE the TURKEY BASTER was to be sent packing. The FULL COMMIE OBAMIE CABAL realized that OBAMA, LYNCH, COMEY, HOLDER, POWER, SUSAN RICE, STRZOK, PAGE, BAKER, McCABE OHR, MRS OHR, etc etc etc etc WERE ALL in PERIL.
That is when the FULL CONSPIRACY set in. Rodham and Comey are the most HILARIOUS and OBVIOUS targets of any INVESTIGATION.
What strikes me, is the IDEA, that PUMMELLING RODHAM/COMEY and numerous others into DUST, is not the thing to do.
THESE VERY MOTHERFUCKERS, tried to COUP and DESTROY, the ACTUAL ELECTED AMERICAN PRESIDENT.
What ACT would be considered more VILE and more TREASONOUS?? The CORRUPTION at the FBI and JUSTICE Department were/was UNBELIEVABLE. The FULL COMMIES, never considered the PRICE of their actions.
GALLOWS.

[GUS]

Narciso, the FULL COMMIES are flinging MONKEY FECES at the WALL. They own the MFM, and they own the MILLENIAL clown vote. It's beyond ironic, that immediately after the 2 and a half year WITCH HUNT, ended with LIBTARDS eating monkey feces, THE FULL COMMIE, ups the ante, and beclowns themselves further with RHETORIC, that is clearly nonsense.

The PRESIDENT is obstructing JUSTICE, because XYZ......IMMEDIATELY AFTER, The POTUS was found to NOT HAVE been involved in ANY law breaking.
WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OBSTRUCTED???

This FULL COMMIE DESPERATION is directly related to their FEAR of the PROCTO-EXAM, that is coming.

[Narciso79]

Sid serving as a stovepipe isnt surprising as a know his was receiving tidbits from the late drumheller and Murray who in turn were provably receiving info from hanning at bnd and choet at dgse. The first forgif to tell drumheller and drogin that curveball was entirely their boy. The second assured us all that nigerien yellowcake was accounted for

[Narciso79]

The tail wags the dog
https://www.france24.com/en/20190509-libya-suspend-foreign-firms-pressure-europe-hafta-un-sarraj-fighting

[GUS]

Stonewalling????? Stonewalling WHAT?

A simple FULL COMMIE LIBTARD bluff.

TRUMP was exonerated. So the COMMIES attack BARR.
The DEMOTARD CRIMINALS are VERY VERY AFRAID.
They are going to sell BARR is corrupt, OR, the INVESTIGATION of COMEY/LYNCH/RODHAM is a.................HEEE HEEEEE political WITCH HUNT.
It's all they have LEFT.

[Narciso79]

No it was this thread, my mistake, meanwhile the Italian spy in Paris is most assuredly dead or he could just be pining like ths fellow Ethan hunt intercepted in the last mission impossible film.

[Dave (in MA)]

.

[GUS]

Dave, the UNC woman, who approached, berated, swore at, assaulted and battered a PRO LIFE PERSON on campus is completely "telling".
This DEATH CULT BROAD, knew to use the term TRIGGERED as part of her FULL COMMIE NON-INCLUSIVE PHYSICAL ATTACK on a PRO-LIFE PERSON, who was merely exercising HIS 1st amendment RIGHTS.
The FULL COMMIE LEFT, uses TRIGGERED as an excuse for their VIOLENCE. Someone ELSE cause her to be a VIOLENT LEFTIST THUG.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

New?

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

New!

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

Yes. New