- The Washington Times - Friday, February 26, 2016

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump revealed at Thursday’s Republican debate that he’s in the middle of being audited by the IRS — and suggested afterward that his religion could be playing a part in it.

“I’m always audited by the IRS,” he said on CNN after the debate broadcast on the cable news network. “Which I think is very unfair. I don’t know, maybe because of religion, maybe because of something else.”

What do you mean, religion? he was asked.

“Well, maybe because of the fact that I’m a strong Christian and I feel strongly about it and maybe there’s a bias,” he said. “You see what’s happened. I mean, you have many religious groups that are complaining about that. They’ve been complaining about that for a long time.”

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson had said at the debate that he hadn’t been audited until he criticized President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast several years ago.

Mr. Trump has cited the ongoing audit as the reason he can’t release his back taxes yet. Earlier this week, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney called on all the candidates to release their recent tax figures.

• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.

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