Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Monday faced a new call to release his tax returns, this time from conservative leaders.
And if he doesn’t, they threatened to campaign against him.
“It is standard practice in the political process for a presidential candidate to release his, or her tax records. The reason is simple: the American people have a right to know that the man or woman who would lead them is beyond reproach in matters of personal finances,” wrote three conservative leaders to Trump, ForAmerica chairman L. Brent Bozell III, Conservative Leadership PAC Chairman Morton Blackwell, and Richard Viguerie, chairman of Conservative HQ.Com.
They added: “If you have nothing to hide, release your returns as the other candidate have done. Otherwise we and the growing number of concerned patriots with whom we join our voices will regard you with even more distrust, disdain, and suspicion. We will work tirelessly to prevent you from ever stepping foot into the Oval Office.”
Trump has promised to come clean with his taxes, but said he can’t until the IRS completes its latest audit on his records.
In their letter, the conservative critics however said that the public has a right to know what, if any, problem is in those records before it decides on voting for Trump.
“One would think you’d rush to release your returns. In every single speech you deliver, in seemingly every interview you provide, you boast about your wealth, repeatedly claiming you are worth $10 billion. You boast of the ‘tens of thousands of jobs’ you’ve created. You boast of the incredible success of your business empire, pointing to one enterprise after another as examples of your personal successes.
“One would think you’d wave those tax returns in front of the American people triumphantly as validation of all these claims. Yet you are doing the opposite. You’re keeping them from the public,” they wrote.
Their full letter is below:
Dear Mr. Trump,
It is standard practice in the political process for a presidential candidate to release his, or her tax records. The reason is simple: the American people have a right to know that the man or woman who would lead them is beyond reproach in matters of personal finances.
Candidates shouldn’t be prodded to do this; they should do so on their own, at the start of the campaign, so the voters know exactly where the candidate stands on this issue. Sometimes, however, it’s necessary to demand those records be released. Failure to do so leads to questions about honesty, trust, integrity — and impropriety.
You have not released your returns voluntarily. Presidential candidates began releasing their returns consistently starting in the early 1970s. The other major candidates in this election, including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton have all voluntarily shared their most recent tax returns with the American People. You’ve been challenged to do so by others and still you refuse.
Why?
One would think you’d rush to release your returns. In every single speech you deliver, in seemingly every interview you provide, you boast about your wealth, repeatedly claiming you are worth $10 billion. You boast of the “tens of thousands of jobs” you’ve created. You boast of the incredible success of your business empire, pointing to one enterprise after another as examples of your personal successes.
One would think you’d wave those tax returns in front of the American people triumphantly as validation of all these claims. Yet you are doing the opposite. You’re keeping them from the public.
Why?
The fact that you are being audited is all the more reason to release your tax returns. The American people have a right to know about the problems which triggered the audit. It points directly to the issues of honesty and integrity.
Now we learn you are embroiled in at least one major lawsuit, suggesting personal fraud on your part with Trump University.
We call on you to release your tax returns immediately to clear the air regarding these issues.
If you will not make your returns public we can only assume, at this point, that you are hiding something. Something which, if revealed, could seriously damage your quest for the White House.
The American people not only have a right to full transparency from someone who could ultimately go on to be the leader of the free world, but they also have a duty to fully vet someone who will hold so much power.
If you have nothing to hide, release your returns as the other candidate have done. Otherwise we and the growing number of concerned patriots with whom we join our voices will regard you with even more distrust, disdain, and suspicion. We will work tirelessly to prevent you from ever stepping foot into the Oval Office.
Signed,
L. Brent Bozell III
Chairman, ForAmerica
Morton Blackwell
Chairman, Conservative Leadership PAC
Richard Viguerie
Chairman of Conservative HQ.Com
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
