The memo contradicts the Trump administration’s justification for denying lawmakers’ request for President Trump’s tax returns, exposing fissures in the executive branch. Trump has refused to turn over his tax returns but has not invoked executive privilege. “[T]he Secretary’s obligation to disclose return and return information would not be affected by the failure of a tax writing committee . At the time, Democrats were making clear they probably would seek copies of Trump’s tax returns under a 1924 law that states that the treasury secretary “shall furnish” tax returns to Congress. Mnuchin and other senior staff members never reviewed the IRS memo, according to a Treasury spokesman.

Source: Washington Post May 21, 2019 22:46 UTC