Ranking House Financial Services Committee Republican Patrick McHenry requested that Chairwoman Maxine Waters and committee Democrats keep President Trump’s tax returns confidential if they succeed in getting access to them through a subpoena.
The North Carolina congressman, in a letter sent to Waters late Tuesday and obtained by the Washington Examiner, requested that any tax information regarding Trump turned over by Deutsche Bank to Waters’ committee be handled in a manner consistent with the process outlined in Section 6103 of the tax code and be kept confidential. The Democrat-led committee has requested Trump’s tax returns for the purposes of examining whether Trump helped Russians or other foreigners launder money through his properties.
Section 6103 gives the heads of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Joint Committee on Taxation the authority to request confidential tax return information.
The statute also places limits, however, on the dissemination of tax information. In particular, it says that other panels, such as the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry noted, can only view the tax returns in a closed session if they haven’t been given authorization to disclose them. Trump has cited an ongoing IRS audit as a reason to avoid releasing his tax returns and has been firm in his desire for the tax returns not to be released.
“These processes are in place to prevent those with access to tax returns from harassing political enemies and protects everyday citizens’ right to privacy,” said Laura Peavey, a spokeswoman for McHenry. “These critical protections should apply no matter whose tax returns are at stake and it would be irresponsible to release such information, especially for political gain.”
In the past, Waters has talked about getting Trump’s tax returns.
“We’re gonna get your tax returns. We’re gonna find out where your money has come from, the way that you have cheated the IRS,” Waters said in a speech in February of this year.
Waters has been particularly vocal in her criticism of Trump this week, saying on Tuesday that “impeachment is not good enough” and that Trump should be thrown into prison.
