Comer proposal would force Trump to do something he's refused to do for years
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has found some surprising common ground with House Democrats — over a proposal to force disclosure of presidential tax returns.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the bill, also sponsored by Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), "would force presidents and vice presidents to disclose their tax filings for the two years before entering the White House, for the years while in office, and for two years afterward" and "compel them, along with close family members such as children, siblings and in-laws, to disclose payments from foreign entities as well as large gifts and loans from family members."
It remains unclear whether this bill, which Comer praises as "a good product" that resolves a "gray area" in ethics law, will gain traction in the House or pass the Senate. However, it is a surprising development after former President Donald Trump spent years refusing to release his tax returns, with the blessing of Republicans in Congress.
Ultimately, in 2020, many of Trump's tax returns were leaked to The New York Times, which revealed a number of damning details about how he used business losses to avoid paying income tax for years.
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The motivation for the bipartisan teamup on the issue appears to be for Republicans to obtain more disclosures about the Biden family's financials, whom the bill would also impact. Comer has for months led an investigation to impeach President Joe Biden for allegedly laundering international bribes, although no evidence of this has turned up, even from the GOP committee members' own witnesses.
In recent weeks, Comer has floated the idea of quietly ending the impeachment inquiry with a simple criminal referral to the Justice Department rather than a vote on articles of impeachment, which would effectively end the matter.
Many Democrats appear opposed to the legislation, with one leadership aide calling it “a political stunt masquerading as a legislative proposal, coming from none other than the chief architect of extreme MAGA Republicans’ failed impeachment effort.” The White House also opposes the bill, saying that “We’re always happy to look at Congressman Comer’s bright ideas,” but that Biden has already disclosed all relevant financial information.