Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: Trump’s Tax Returns May Show Links With Russia
- 7 years ago
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has indicated that President Trump’s tax returns could likely reveal connections with Russia.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has indicated that President Trump’s tax returns could likely reveal connections with Russia.
During an appearance on MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe' Thursday, he was asked about the one question he would pose to Trump about the entire Russia investigation, and the Rhode Island Democrat said it would be: “Show me your tax returns.”
He added, “There is credible information to suggest that the tax returns would reveal contacts with Russia.”
Senator Whitehouse then said about Trump, “He is exactly the model of the business mark that the Russians target in their election interference strategies...and he won’t do it.”
According to Politico, Trump is, in fact, “the first president in 40 years to refuse to make his tax returns public, despite once promising to do so.”
For his part, Trump has claimed that he is not releasing them because he is under an audit even though the IRS has indicated they are not preventing him from doing so.
Two months ago, in response to mounting speculation about his possible ties with Russia, Trump’s lawyers issued a statement about his returns from the past 10 years, notes the New York Times.
They denied that there were incomes or debts associated with entities from the country with some exceptions including a $95 million real estate deal, payments related to a Miss Universe pageant event, and other more miscellaneous transactions.
However, tax expert Steven Rosenthal told CNN Money that the disclosure was not necessarily forthcoming because “Russians would not loan directly to Trump or his businesses. A Russian would, for example, fund a Cyprus corporation, which would lend to Trump or his businesses, possibly through other intermediary entities.”
Legal experts have since indicated to Politico that Trump’s tax returns are likely accessible to one person--Robert Mueller, the former FBI director leading the special counsel investigation into possible ties with Russia.
But the media outlet points out that even if Mueller did have them, that information may not be released to the public or even Trump’s own team.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has indicated that President Trump’s tax returns could likely reveal connections with Russia.
During an appearance on MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe' Thursday, he was asked about the one question he would pose to Trump about the entire Russia investigation, and the Rhode Island Democrat said it would be: “Show me your tax returns.”
He added, “There is credible information to suggest that the tax returns would reveal contacts with Russia.”
Senator Whitehouse then said about Trump, “He is exactly the model of the business mark that the Russians target in their election interference strategies...and he won’t do it.”
According to Politico, Trump is, in fact, “the first president in 40 years to refuse to make his tax returns public, despite once promising to do so.”
For his part, Trump has claimed that he is not releasing them because he is under an audit even though the IRS has indicated they are not preventing him from doing so.
Two months ago, in response to mounting speculation about his possible ties with Russia, Trump’s lawyers issued a statement about his returns from the past 10 years, notes the New York Times.
They denied that there were incomes or debts associated with entities from the country with some exceptions including a $95 million real estate deal, payments related to a Miss Universe pageant event, and other more miscellaneous transactions.
However, tax expert Steven Rosenthal told CNN Money that the disclosure was not necessarily forthcoming because “Russians would not loan directly to Trump or his businesses. A Russian would, for example, fund a Cyprus corporation, which would lend to Trump or his businesses, possibly through other intermediary entities.”
Legal experts have since indicated to Politico that Trump’s tax returns are likely accessible to one person--Robert Mueller, the former FBI director leading the special counsel investigation into possible ties with Russia.
But the media outlet points out that even if Mueller did have them, that information may not be released to the public or even Trump’s own team.