Book: Jon Huntsman Sr. Told Reid That Romney Didn’t Pay Any Taxes For 10 Years

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., updates reporters on the pace of the immigration reform bill following a Democratic strategy session at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 25, 2013.
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The word is finally out.

The source of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) infamous claim during the 2012 presidential campaign that Mitt Romney had not paid any taxes in 10 years was Jon Huntsman Sr., the father of fellow GOP rival Jon Huntsman, according to a new book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann called  “Double Down.”

Reid bashed Romney with the claim, which he said came from a Republican and a Bain Capital investor, during the summer of 2012 as the former Mass. governor repeatedly refused to disclose the tax documents.

“He didn’t pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that’s true? Well, I’m not certain,” Reid told the Huffington Post. “But obviously he can’t release those tax returns. How would it look?”

Reid cheekily repeated the charge on the Senate floor by saying “the word’s out.”

Huntsman Sr. denied that he was the source in August of 2012.

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