Subject: FOR RR2: Final Trump Tax Return Release
From: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
To: "Dieter, Austin" <[email-masked]>, RR2 <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 06:42:05 -0700

Incorporated research edits. See revised quote. Thanks for reviewing this final version. -Mark

SL: Holding Trump Accountable on Tax Returns

"Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell probably won't hold Trump accountable today for all his empty promises, including his pledge to release his tax returns, but voters certainly will. The American people ought to know whether Trump has been paying his fair share and how much he would benefit from his own reckless tax plan." - DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach

Every major presidential candidate since 1976 has made their returns public and, until recently, Donald Trump agreed to continue that forty-year practice.  When he first considered running for President in 1999, he said he, "probably wouldn't have a problem with" releasing his tax returns if he ran. In 2012 he said if you're running for President, "at a minimum, probably, you're going to have to show your tax returns" and they should be released by April 1st of the election year.

But, now Trump won't hold himself to his own standards. His refusal to release his tax returns raises questions about what he's hiding. Below is an abridged timeline of Trump's shifting positions over the years.

When he first considered running for President...

1999<https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/during-1999-run-trump-vowed-to-release-his-tax-returns?utm_term=.muL9odKmN#.wmoEdDVGq>: "I probably wouldn't have a problem with" releasing my tax returns if I ran.

1999<https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/during-1999-run-trump-vowed-to-release-his-tax-returns?utm_term=.flDJBKAd4#.oqrOJrdEb>: When asked about releasing his tax returns for a presidential bid, Trump said he had been an "open book."

During the last Presidential election in 2012...

2012<http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2012/01/19/trump-gop-stop-playing-president-obamas-hands/>: Trump claimed the historic precedent was that presidential candidates released their tax returns by April 1st.

2012<http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2012/01/26/trump-close-to-endorsing-in-gop-presidential-race/>: "If you didn't see the tax returns, you would think there is almost like something wrong. What's wrong?"

2012<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zihdu8RFO5Y&feature=youtu.be>:  Trump said if you were running for president, "at a minimum, probably, you're going to have to show your returns."

2012<http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/24/donald-trump-on-his-big-announcement-its-not-a-publicity-stunt-its-a-serious-very-serious-offer/>: Trump said that Mitt Romney's returns were "very honorably done" and were "absolutely beautiful and perfect."

Over the past year while he ran for President...

2015<http://www.hughhewitt.com/donald-trump-on-2016-and-trolling-the-gop/>: "I have no objection to certainly showing tax returns."

2015<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwimsNT1p9PMAhUBw4MKHU-mDyQQFgg3MAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FPolitics%2FwireStory%2Ftrumps-returns-plays-tax-game-39049939&usg=AFQjCNHtB2aaNAX9BdEyErdwdS36c3zVpw&bvm=bv.121658157,d.amc>: "I want to tell you right now that I have no problem with giving my tax returns but I would tell you upfront a stupid person, a really stupid person is paying a lot of taxes."

2016:<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-wont-release-tax-returns-before-november/> "Over the next three, four months. We're working on them very hard. And they will be very good."

2016<http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/politics/donald-trump-tax-returns/>: Trump claimed he could not release his tax returns because he was being audited, despite it being<http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/27/politics/donald-trump-irs-audit/> "very unfair."

From: Dieter, Austin
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 10:18 PM
To: Paustenbach, Mark; RR2
Subject: RE: FOR RR2 *TONIGHT*: Trump vs. Trump on Releasing his Tax Returns

Research eds below. I added your two links, Christina.

From: Paustenbach, Mark
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 9:53 PM
To: RR2
Subject: FOR RR2 *TONIGHT*: Trump vs. Trump on Releasing his Tax Returns

SL: Trump vs. Trump on Releasing his Tax Returns

Every major presidential candidate since 1976 has made their returns public and, until recently, Donald Trump agreed to continue that forty-year practice.  When he first considered running for President in 1999, he said he, "probably wouldn't have a problem with" releasing his tax returns if I ran. In 2012 he said if you're running for President, "at a minimum, probably, you're going to have to show your tax returns" and they should be released by April 1st of election year.

But, now Trump won't hold himself to those standards. His refusal to release his own tax returns raises questions about what he's hiding. Below is an abridged timeline of Trump's shifting positions over the years.

When he first considered running for President...

1999<https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/during-1999-run-trump-vowed-to-release-his-tax-returns?utm_term=.muL9odKmN#.wmoEdDVGq>: "I probably wouldn't have a problem with" releasing my tax returns if I ran.

1999<https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/during-1999-run-trump-vowed-to-release-his-tax-returns?utm_term=.flDJBKAd4#.oqrOJrdEb>: When asked about releasing his tax returns for a presidential bid, Trump said he had been an "open book."

During the last Presidential election in 2012...

2012<http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2012/01/19/trump-gop-stop-playing-president-obamas-hands/>: Trump claimed the historic precedent was that presidential candidates released their tax returns by April 1st.

2012<http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2012/01/26/trump-close-to-endorsing-in-gop-presidential-race/>: "If you didn't see the tax returns, you would think there is almost like something was wrong. What's wrong?"

2012<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zihdu8RFO5Y&feature=youtu.be>:  Trump said if you were running for president, "at a minimum, you probably, you're going to have to had to show your tax returns."

2012<http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/24/donald-trump-on-his-big-announcement-its-not-a-publicity-stunt-its-a-serious-very-serious-offer/>: Trump said that Mitt Romney's returns were "very honorably done" and were "absolutely beautiful and perfect."

Over the past year while he ran for President...

2015<http://www.hughhewitt.com/donald-trump-on-2016-and-trolling-the-gop/>: "I have no objection to certainly showing tax returns."

2015<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwimsNT1p9PMAhUBw4MKHU-mDyQQFgg3MAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FPolitics%2FwireStory%2Ftrumps-returns-plays-tax-game-39049939&usg=AFQjCNHtB2aaNAX9BdEyErdwdS36c3zVpw&bvm=bv.121658157,d.amc>: "I want to tell you right now that I have no problem with giving my tax returns but I would tell you upfront a stupid person, a really stupid person is paying a lot of taxes."

2016:<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-wont-release-tax-returns-before-november/> "Over the next three, four months. We're working on them very hard. And they will be very good."

2016<http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/politics/donald-trump-tax-returns/>: Trump claimed he could not release his tax returns because he was being audited, despite it being<http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/27/politics/donald-trump-irs-audit/> "very, "very unfair."

"Donald Trump saw what happened to Mitt Romney when the American people learned he paid<http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/mitt-romney-made-42-million-paid-14-percent/story?id=15423615> just 14 percent in taxes on over $40 million in earnings over two years, it proved he just didn't understand hardworking Americans.  This isn't primary season anymore, Donald Trump has to be held accountable and the American people should know whether the reality TV mogul pays less in taxes than middle-class families. If Donald Trump can't be trusted now, he can't be trusted to have the judgment and temperament the American people expect of a pPresident." - Luis Miranda, DNC Communications Director