IRS Memo Says Trump Must Release Tax Returns Or Invoke Executive Privilege

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media prior to departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, May 14, 2019. - Trump is traveling to Louisiana to speak about energy, infrastr... US President Donald Trump speaks to the media prior to departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, May 14, 2019. - Trump is traveling to Louisiana to speak about energy, infrastructure and economic growth and to attend a fundraiser. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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A confidential internal IRS memo spells out that President Donald Trump must either release his tax returns to Congress or invoke executive privilege, according to a Tuesday Washington Post report.

Per the memo, the disclosure “is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs.”

The IRS told the Post that the drafted memo was prepared in the fall.

The schism within the department takes on more importance now, since on Friday Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin rejected a subpoena from the House Ways and Means Committee over the returns, likely leading to a legal skirmish.

The last time the administration tried to ignore a congressional subpoena and the mess ended up in court, the House committee won.

Notable Replies

  1. Someone at the IRS acknowledged the law Eh?

    I expect they have been fired by now?

  2. That combover looks as phony as he is.

  3. The IRS is now disavowing that this is their official stance on their obligation to turn over returns to the House. They claim it was merely a draft policy porposal,and never signed off by IRS officials. So, Mnuchin and Trump are off the hook once again. Onward to court.

    
    The IRS told the Post that the memo was drafted last fall by a lawyer at the Office of Chief Counsel and ***did not convey the agency's "official position.***" The agency also told the paper that ***IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and chief counsel Michael Desmond were not aware of the memo*** until the Post requested comment, and that ***it was never shared with the Treasury.***
    The ***unsigned***, 10-page document titled "Congressional Access to Returns and Return Information" ***is stamped "DRAFT***" and makes no reference to Trump, according to the Post, which could not confirm who had written and viewed the memo.
    
    https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/politics/wapo-irs-memo-trump-tax-returns/index.html
  4. The problem for Mnuchin is that, draft or not, IRS and treasury leaders look as if they have blown off the advice of the former chief counsel who prepared the draft and are making stuff up as they go along with a heavy sprinking of answer shopping. This, along with Judge Mehta’s decision is almost certain to be considered by the judge that settles this case.

    It’s simple prevarication.

  5. Avatar for rick rick says:

    Executive Privilege isn’t a remotely credible argument. Submitting a tax return isn’t an official duty of the office.

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