FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, April 15, 2019
PRESS CONTACT:
Ryan Thomas
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Reps. Pascrell and Chu Join Progressive Groups in Calling on Treasury to Immediately Comply With Request for Trump’s Tax Returns
Rep. Pascrell: “Our patience, and the American people’s patience, is running out.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tax Day 2019, two years after 125,000 people marched through the streets to demand Trump’s tax returns be released, Tax March, Stand Up America, and Public Citizen joined Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Judy Chu (D-CA) for a press call to demand that the Treasury Department immediately comply with Chairman Neal’s request after failing to meet the deadline for the release of the returns.
With Treasury Secretary Mnuchin stonewalling the process, speakers on today’s call also urged House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal to continue pushing for President Trump’s tax returns.
“On this Tax Day, we cannot and will not allow Donald Trump or his administration to hide the truth from the American people. We will follow the facts and we will hold him accountable for his numerous conflicts of interest and dubious financial entanglements,” said Maura Quint, Executive Director of Tax March.“Should Mnuchin, or any Trump administration official, create further delays, they must be held to account by Congress.”
“We’ll see what Mr. Mnuchin does following the Treasury Department’s silence, but there’s no way around it—Richard Neal was very specific and very narrow in his first letter,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell. “Our patience, and the American people’s patience, is running out.”
“Donald Trump has continually tried to hoodwink the public, but we have the law on our side and a compelling interest in making sure it is followed,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu. “Both the government and the people have a clear stake in knowing that everyone, including the president, is paying their fair share.”
“Our grassroots community has a clear message for this administration: No more excuses. No more delays. No more extensions,” said Sean Eldridge, Founder and President of Stand Up America. “The law is clear. The administration must provide Trump’s tax returns. Whether they like it or not, no one is above the law in the United States of America.”
“President Trump’s tax returns are the perfect example of an information void for needed oversight and accountability. The public has been clamoring for the release of Trump’s tax returns since he first announced his candidacy for office, and President Trump’s refusal to disclose his tax information, despite decades of precedent set by his predecessors makes it clear that future presidential and vice presidential candidates and office holders must be required by law to disclose this information,” said Lisa Gilbert, Vice President of Legislative Affairs at Public Citizen, who spoke about the need to pass House Democrats’ For The People Act, which includes provisions requiring such disclosures.
Following today’s press call, several progressive organizations including Americans for Tax Fairness and Tax March will rally outside of the IRS building to demand that Treasury Secretary Mnuchin comply with Chairman Neal’s request.
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