House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Neal said Friday he doubts Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will comply with the committee’s deadline to receive President Trump’s tax returns.
“After the election, I indicated that this would end up in a long court case,” Mr. Neal, Massachusetts Democrat, said on CNN. “I have not seen anything in the last few weeks that would dissuade me from that position.”
When asked if holding Mr. Mnuchin in contempt is a potential option, Mr. Neal responded, “I don’t see what good it would do.”
“If both sides have made up their minds, better to move it over to the next branch of government, the judiciary,” he said.
In a letter sent to Mr. Neal after he missed the last deadline, Mr. Mnuchin said the Treasury Department “cannot act upon your request unless and until it is determined to be consistent with law” and will make a decision “after receiving the Justice Department’s legal conclusions.”
Mr. Trump has said he’d be open to releasing his tax returns once he’s no longer under audit but has been resistant to House Democrats government oversight investigations.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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