Thread by @JL_Olmsted

1/ HOW DEMS CAN DEFEAT TRUMP. No one will indict Trump. That leaves impeachment. Nancy Pelosi & others fear impeachment unless there's an "airtight case." Trump's greatest fear is release of his tax returns. That is where the "airtight case" of criminality lies.

2/ So, the path to impeaching Trump lies in getting his tax returns. Federal law says the House Ways & Means Committee, chaired by Dem Richard Neal, is entitled to those returns. New York State passed a law that when signed by Governor Cuomo will give Congress Trump's returns.

3/ There is one person, a Democrat, standing between Congress & the American public & Trump's tax returns.

THAT PERSON IS RICHARD NEAL, CHAIR OF THE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE.

TO IMPEACH TRUMP, WE MUST FIRST LIGHT A FIRE UNDER RICHARD NEAL.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIM.

4/ From the beginning, Richard Neal was going to protect Trump by not fiercely doing his Constitutional duty & fighting to obtain Trump's taxes.

Incoming Democratic tax chairman won't make quick grab for Trump's returns

5/ Multiple articles have been written about Neal's fecklessness when it comes to Trump's taxes. Neal would rather do anything than use the law, which gives him absolute and immediate access to Trump's tax returns.

The Democrats’ Richie Neal Problem prospect.org/article/democr…

6/ Remarkably, NY State has passed a bill releasing Trump's state tax returns to Congress. Once signed by Governor Cuomo it becomes law.

Yet Rep. Richard Neal, Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, has stated he WON'T SEEK TO OBTAIN TRUMP'S NEW YORK STATE TAX RETURNS.

7/ Richard Neal has offered this cryptic and disheartening reason for not seeking the KEY TO TRUMP'S CRIMINALITY AND A POSSIBLE BASIS FOR IMPEACHMENT: “This request was in furtherance of an investigation into the mandatory presidential audit program at the IRS," (con't)

8/ "said Dan Rubin, a spokesman for House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.). State returns would not help us evaluate this program and decide if legislative action is needed to codify this program into federal law.”

9/ And it is not just Neal who is complicit. We also have to light a fire under the Oversight subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee. Here are the culprits protecting Trump: @repjohnlewis @RepDelBene @RepLindaSanchez @RepTomSuozzi @RepJudyChu @RepGwenMoore @RepBrendanBoyle

Addendum 1:

https://twitter.com/Amy_Siskind/status/1129493613837201408

Addendum 2:

https://twitter.com/Amy_Siskind/status/1125567626195943425

Addendum 3:

Evidence that Richard Neal is a corrupt GOP operative for Trump:

"Neal’s top common contributor in the 2017-2018 cycle was “Votesane PAC,” whice is headedlargely by veteran Republicans lobbyists and influence peddlers."

Addendum 4:

Information on Votesane PAC, Dem Rep Richard Neal's biggest campaign contributor. Ask: Does this explain why Neal won't get Trump's tax returns?

https://twitter.com/ceprdc/status/1091819865193803777

Addendum 5:

NY Offers Chairman Neal Trump's Tax Returns, Neal Says No Thanks. Unbelievable! dailykos.com/story/2019/6/5…

Addendum 6:

valleyadvocate.com/2019/04/24/gue…

Addendum 7:

In New High-Power Role, Rep. Neal Uses Lavish Fundraisers To Rake In Elite Dollars wbur.fm/2YePUhb via @WBUR

Addendum 8:

House Democrat Seems Concerned About Requesting Trump's State Tax Returns lawandcrime.com/high-profile/h… via @lawcrimenews

Addendum 9:

Neal Balks At Using New New York State Law To Get Trump Tax Returns talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/neal… via @TPM

Addendum 10:

Democrats need to get more aggressive on Trump because issues won't cut it newstimes.com/opinion/articl… via @newstimes

Addendum 11:

'Are You Kidding Me?' Frustration Grows as Powerful House Democrat Refuses to Accept New York Offer of Trump Tax Returns - go.shr.lc/2WWvbly via @commondreams

Addendum 12:

"Richard Neal would be the only Democrat allowed by the new law to ask for the documents," Bloomberg reported, "but so far he has said he won't do it."

New York Offers Up Trump's State Tax Returns—But One Lawmaker Stands in the Way finance.yahoo.com/news/york-offe…

News sources disagree on the committees entitled to the returns. Per one source: "The bill . . . permits the state . . . to release any state tax return requested by the leaders of the House Ways & Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation."

Addendum 13:

House Democrats Turn Down Offer For Trump’s Tax Returns trofire.com/2019/06/06/hou… via @The Ring of Fire Network

Addendum 14:

Dear Chairman Neal: Ask for Trump's New York state tax returns, STAT dailykos.com/story/2019/6/5…

Addendum 15:

Richard Neal, Ways & Means Committee chair, WON'T EVEN RELEASE HIS OWN TAX RETURNS! PERHAPS THAT EXPLAINS WHY HE'S DOING SUCH A PATHETIC JOB OF OBTAINING TRUMP'S RETURNS!

Richard Neal says his own tax returns will come ‘down the road.' go.shr.lc/2UxkMLP

Addendum 16:

Richard Neal not only stands in the way of obtaining Trump's state and federal tax returns, he has become a bottleneck for the entire Trump investigation.

New York offers up Donald Trump's state taxes—But one lawmaker stands in the way. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…