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Opinion | The IRS chief must release Trump’s tax returns — and Mnuchin must not stop him. Read my @washingtonpost column: wapo.st/2FYvgug?tid=ss…
During my time in the Treasury Department, I do not recall any politically sensitive request or other requests from a tax-writing committee. But motivated by recent controversies, I have asked myself how I would have responded had such a request been made.
As best I can determine, the appropriate response of the treasury secretary is very clear: Under a long-standing delegation order, the secretary does not get involved in taxpayer-specific matters and has delegated to the IRS commissioner.
So for the secretary to seek to decide whether to pass on the president’s tax return to Congress would surely be inappropriate and probably illegal. I would have indicated to the IRS commissioner that I expected the IRS to comply with the law as always.
.@realDonaldTrump has at times suggested that he cannot turn over returns because they are under audit. This is wholly fictitious, as there is no such IRS rule, practice or even suggestion with respect to returns under audit.
