Trump's Terrible Tax Returns

Trump’s Terrible Tax Returns
The View from the Middle

Dear reader, brace yourself because I am going to blow the lid off of the Trump tax return debate. I know who has Trump’s tax returns, all of them, and I’m going to tell you who that is. While my revelation may shock members of Congress, I don’t think it will surprise any of you. After a quick “duh” moment you will realize the folly and duplicitous nature of this whole non-issue. OK, are you ready? Here is who has all of Donald Trump’s tax returns – The IRS.

I’m sure the IRS has a team devoted to combing through Donald Trump’s tax returns to make sure he has followed the law and not done anything illegal in his business practices or in his filings. This is their job and they do not have a reputation for being lax in their duties. They are insuring that everything that Donald Trump does is within the law. And they do the same thing for all of us. If you asked me who I think would do a better job of evaluating Donald Trump’s tax returns, The IRS or Maxine Waters, I am going to say with absolute confidence that the IRS would is better equipped for that job. If Congress doesn’t like some of the deductions that Trump is taking advantage of, just change the law. They are the ones who created these loopholes in the first place.

So, if the IRS is going to determine if Trump did anything illegal, and if they will be able to do that much better than Congress, why does Congress want him to release his returns publicly? It’s simple. They want to root around through his complicated and, I’m sure, lengthy tax returns to find anything that might be embarrassing to him.

Now, for perspective, even my tax returns can be 40 or 50 pages long, depending on the year. You can imagine how long Donald Trump’s returns are. When the press and the anti-Trump coalition get the opportunity to rummage around through his tax returns, I’m sure they will be able to find something that they can twist into an embarrassment. They will not, however, find anything illegal. That is the job of the IRS. Congress and the press just want a free fishing expedition through Trump’s returns, and we all, down deep, know that is the case.

Some people will suggest that Trump is not above the law, and they would be correct. But, I’m certain that the majority of Americans will also agree that Trump is not BELOW the law. Anyone who runs for President is required to submit a financial disclosure to ascertain if he or she has any conflicts of interest. Donald Trump has done that. There is no law that requires a presidential candidate to release his or her tax returns. That is just a fact.

Now, there may be political ramifications for NOT releasing his tax returns, but this already played out in the 2016 election. Obviously, many people cared more about Trump’s potential policies than the fact that he didn’t release his taxes. That political equation could change for 2020, but I’m guessing it won’t. I’m also guessing the Trump will not, EVER, release his returns publicly. That is his prerogative. He is still a citizen of the United States with rights to privacy that we ALL have. If he can be forced to release his taxes, then any of us can be forced to do the same. Remember, any right you want to take away from Trump you must be willing to give up yourself.