Congressional Democrats, and possibly Republicans as well, are poised to demand President Trump’s tax returns, according to the chairmen of committees granted power to seek individuals’ tax information.
Speculation about the high-profile investigation went into overdrive in the Capitol on Tuesday, as Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., a member of the House committee of jurisdiction and perhaps the most outspoken congressional proponent of publicizing Trump’s returns, said that the committee would request Trump’s returns in two weeks.
Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, downplayed that timeline and said he will request Trump’s tax returns from the Treasury Department “when the case is ready.”
Neal did suggest, though, that his committee would request at least 10 years of tax returns when it formally went through with the request, calling the timeframe “a prudent guideline.”
Neal will likely have company in requesting Trump’s returns, when the time comes. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley R-Iowa, told the Washington Examiner in an interview that he will also request Trump’s returns when Democrats move forward, but that he strongly disagrees with the effort to make them public.
[Opinion: Trump tax returns: House Democrats ready for ultimate fishing expedition]
“I’m not for the president’s tax papers being made public, but if [the Democratic majority] on the [House] Ways and Means is going to get them, we’re going to get them,” Grassley said.
A spokesperson for Grassley clarified that the Iowa Republican would request Trump’s returns only if congressional Democrats receive them.
“Those seeking an individual’s personal tax returns to exact political damage would be opening the door to future abuses of power and would poison the public trust in the ability of the IRS to keep personal information private,” said Grassley communications director Michael Zona. “That’s an outcome every taxpayer and their elected representatives should want to avoid.”
By obtaining access to Trump’s returns, Grassley would be informed about claims Democrats might make about them. The likelihood he follows through on that request could depend on whether the Treasury Department resists Democratic efforts and, if so, how an expected legal battle over the returns plays out.
A Treasury Department spokesperson said in an email that “Secretary [Steven] Mnuchin will review any request with Treasury’s attorneys for legality.”
Trump has refused to voluntarily release his tax returns, a break with post-Watergate precedent set by presidents. Now, he faces a showdown with congressional Democrats over the documents.
Speaking to reporters between votes late on Tuesday, Pascrell backed off his initial two week prediction, saying Ways and Means Democrats need to take their time, as they expect resistance from Mnuchin, a close Trump ally.
“That doesn’t stop us from our responsibility, we can’t cop out,” said Pascrell. “Right now he’s in a defensive mode, Mr. Mnuchin. Sycophants usually are.”
Neal’s push for the returns faced renewed attention following last week’s congressional testimony from Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, and Monday’s request from the House Judiciary Committee for information from 81 individuals and institutions with ties to Trump, including the Trump Organization.
Neal said he was consulting with both the lawyers at his committee, and with the chief counsel for the House of Representatives, before making his request. When asked if that will include the Trump Organization’s returns, Neal remained noncommittal.
“That will be clearly within the discretion of what counsel tells me,” said Neal.
“I don’t think that we can air this [process] in public,” Neal told reporters. “I think part of the preparation I have done is prudent based on the advice of [legal] counsel.”
Rep. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., another member of the Ways and Means committee, agreed with the initial timeline Pascrell gave for requesting Trump’s tax returns.
“I think within a couple of weeks, certainly,” said Higgins. “It’s what I see in my intuition.”
Higgins stressed that he did not think Neal had yet finalized his decision on timing. But a former Democratic congressional staffer with experience in investigations, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, expected Neal to make his request of Treasury prior to the next congressional recess, which takes place the week of St. Patrick’s Day, in two weeks.
