Private lawyers for President Trump said Friday that his tax returns for the last 10 years show he hasn’t received “any income of any type from Russian sources,” with some exceptions.
Although the lawyers didn’t release the president’s actual tax returns, they said a review of the documents show there is no equity investment by Russians in entities controlled by Mr. Trump, or debt owed by the president to Russian lenders.
Exceptions included income from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, owned by Mr. Trump, that was held in Moscow, and a property sold to a Russian billionaire in 2008 for $95 million.
The lawyers, Sheri Dillon and William Nelson of Morgan Lewis, said Mr. Trump holds interests as the sole or principal owner in more than 500 properties.
“With a few exceptions — as detailed below — your tax returns do not reflect (1) any income of any type from Russian sources, (2) any debt owed by you or TTO [The Trump Organization] to Russian lenders or any interest paid by you or TTO to Russian lenders, (3) any equity investments by Russian persons or entities in entities controlled by you or TTO, or (4) any equity or debt investments by you or TTO in Russian entities,” the lawyers wrote.
The release came as Democrats intensified their calls for Mr. Trump’s tax returns and the White House tries to tamp down concerns about any Russian ties amid ongoing investigations of his campaign officials. Critics accused Mr. Trump of firing FBI Director James B. Comey this week to sidetrack a Russia investigation, a charge the president denied in an interview Thursday, saying he hoped his move would speed up the probe.
“I have no investments in Russia, none whatsoever,” Mr. Trump told NBC News Thursday. “I don’t have property in Russia. A lot of people thought I owned office buildings in Moscow. I don’t have property in Russia.”
The White House said Mr. Trump asked his lawyers for the letter following a request from Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, for information on any ties that the president might have to Russia. Mr. Graham is lead a congressional investigation of Russian tampering with the presidential election last year.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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