What happened?
Another blow to former US President Donald Trump: On Tuesday night (local time), a congressional committee voted to make at least parts of Trump’s tax documents publicly available.
Why is this important?
For years, Trump had refused to use legal means to release the documents to the Finance Committee — eventually failing in the Supreme Court. The publication is now a sensitive defeat for the 76-year-old and could provide new insights into the ex-president’s finances.
What are Trump’s opponents hoping for a revelation?
Contrary to US practice, the real estate entrepreneur had not released his tax returns either as a presidential candidate or after taking office in the White House. Critics therefore suspect that he has something to hide. Among other things, the Democrats wanted to investigate whether the real estate entrepreneur’s documents revealed a conflict of interest and whether he had used questionable methods to save taxes. Trump’s tax records were reportedly turned over to the board of directors in early December.
When will it be published?
All tax documents requested in court would be published, Republican commissioner Lloyd Doggett told CNN after the vote. Publication may take a few more days, as sensitive data such as social security numbers must be blacked out. Here’s Trump’s tax records from 2015 to 2020.
An initial report from the commission was published late Tuesday evening (local time). It states, among other things, that Trump has not been properly audited by the tax authorities. It has been noted that in Trump’s four years in office, only one mandatory review has been initiated and none have been completed. In addition, the commission notes, “Numerous reports have exposed the former president’s aggressive tax strategies and decades of tax avoidance strategies through the complexities of managing his personal and business finances.”
Who voted for publication – and who against?
All Republicans on the Finance Committee voted against publication — all Democrats voted in favor. Republican committee member Kevin Brady slammed the Democrats ahead of Tuesday’s session. They would unleash a “dangerous new political weapon” that could have dire consequences, he said. Broadcaster CNN quoted a spokesman for Trump, who also sharply criticized the publication. “If this injustice can happen to President Trump, it can happen to all Americans for no reason,” he said, according to the broadcaster.
What is Trump actually saying about this?
Trump announced in November that he would run again as a Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 election. The 76-year-old had already opposed a possible publication on the Truth Social network, which he co-founded. The tax documents would say nothing about his “great company” with “some of the largest assets in the world and very little debt”. “You can’t learn much from tax returns, but it’s illegal to publish them if they don’t belong to you.”
How did it get this far?
The Finance Committee in the House of Representatives has been trying for years to get hold of the tax documents. During the Trump administration, the Treasury Department initially stood in the way. It wasn’t until the administration of successor Joe Biden last year that the Treasury Department finally instructed the IRS to hand over the documents to the committee. Trump fought back in court, trying various instances until the only option left was to go to the US Supreme Court, where he finally failed in November.
This was a last-minute success for the committee: Since Republicans won the majority in the US midterm elections and will be in charge there from early January, the Democrat-led body had little time to do anything about it.
Is it getting tight for Trump now?
For Trump, this is the second blow this week. At its final public hearing on Monday, the Capitol Attack Committee of Inquiry advised the Justice Department to take criminal action against Trump and others involved. Trump is under threat of criminal consequences for his role in storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump also has other legal troubles, including a dispute over classified documents found at his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
