MSNBC host and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough got into a fight Wednesday with one of Donald Trump’s attorneys following the publication of part of the president’s 2005 federal tax returns.
On Tuesday, Scarborough’s colleague, liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, made Trump’s returns public, and the White House responded by saying the documents showed that the president is wealthy and paid a fair amount of tax.
The following day, Scarborough accused the White House of deliberately leaking the tax return to distract the media from conflict over the Republican healthcare bill and questions over Trump’s ties to the Russian government.
“The Trump camp released one positive tax return to distract from Russia hearings and the Trumpcare meltdown,” Scarborough said on Twitter. “That’s painfully obvious.”
The Trump camp released one positive tax return to distract from Russia hearings and the Trumpcare meltdown. That’s painfully obvious. https://t.co/NLBVPJhwg6
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 15, 2017
Michael Cohen, an associate of Trump’s, seemed to reject Scarborough’s theory. “As [Trump’s] personal attorney, I know who has his taxes,” he said. “You better have proof to back up your claim and big mouth!”
.@JoeNBC As #potus @realDonaldTrump personal attorney, I know who has his taxes. You better have proof to back up your claim and big mouth!
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) March 15, 2017
Scarborough shot back that it was his own opinion that Trump may have leaked the taxes and Cohen should “save your dumb thug routine for someone who gives a damn.”
And by the way “attorney”:
1. Read the First Amendment
2. Save your dumb thug routine for someone who gives a damn. https://t.co/EZfiaEq2yp— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 15, 2017
The 2005 return form showed that Trump paid $38.4 million on $152.7 million of income that year, meaning he paid an effective rate of about 25 percent.
