(CNN) A showdown between the White House and House Democrats over the release of President Donald Trump's personal tax returns comes down to one man: Charles Rettig, head of the Internal Revenue Service. Rettig, 62, a veteran California tax attorney, spent more than 35 years representing taxpayers in disputes with federal and state tax agencies until he was sworn in as IRS commissioner last October. Today, Rettig's role following Neal's request for Trump's tax returns has been blurred by Mnuchin's intervention in the process, arguing that as Rettig's boss, the responsibility falls to him to oversee the decision. So far, Mnuchin has interceded twice in responding to Democratic congressional demands to release Trump's tax returns despite directing their request to Rettig. "This is a decision that has enormous precedence in potentially weaponizing the IRS," Mnuchin told reporters in April on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund annual meeting in Washington.

Source: CNN May 05, 2019 06:33 UTC