Now as the president's chief line of defense he will have to balance his loyalty to Trump against a request that many experts say leaves him little wiggle room.
"[The] request tests Mnuchin's oath of office: Whether Mnuchin will faithfully execute the laws of the United States, or whether Mnuchin will bend to the will of the president," said Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center who testified before Congress in February about the need to request Trump's tax returns.
Neal made the request under a part of section 6103 of the federal tax code that states that the Treasury Secretary "Shall furnish" tax returns to the chairmen of Congress's tax committees upon written request, so long as the documents are viewed in a closed session.
As head of the department that includes the IRS, Mnuchin will face pressure from Trump and congressional Republicans to push back on Democrats' request.
"Secretary Mnuchin should have no involvement in responding to Chairman Neal's request for President Trump's tax returns," Senate Finance Committee ranking member said in a statement Thursday.
Neal's office said in a "Frequently Asked Questions" document that the chairman sent the request to Rettig because the IRS typically handles requests under section 6103 and the Treasury Secretary has delegated the administration and enforcement of tax laws to the IRS. Both Mnuchin and Rettig are scheduled to testify at congressional hearings next week, and lawmakers are likely to press them about their response to Democrats' tax-return request.
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist said that Mnuchin should emphasize that tax data should be private information.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/437500-tax-return-fight-tests-mnuchins-loyalty-to-trump
"[The] request tests Mnuchin's oath of office: Whether Mnuchin will faithfully execute the laws of the United States, or whether Mnuchin will bend to the will of the president," said Steve Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center who testified before Congress in February about the need to request Trump's tax returns.
Neal made the request under a part of section 6103 of the federal tax code that states that the Treasury Secretary "Shall furnish" tax returns to the chairmen of Congress's tax committees upon written request, so long as the documents are viewed in a closed session.
As head of the department that includes the IRS, Mnuchin will face pressure from Trump and congressional Republicans to push back on Democrats' request.
"Secretary Mnuchin should have no involvement in responding to Chairman Neal's request for President Trump's tax returns," Senate Finance Committee ranking member said in a statement Thursday.
Neal's office said in a "Frequently Asked Questions" document that the chairman sent the request to Rettig because the IRS typically handles requests under section 6103 and the Treasury Secretary has delegated the administration and enforcement of tax laws to the IRS. Both Mnuchin and Rettig are scheduled to testify at congressional hearings next week, and lawmakers are likely to press them about their response to Democrats' tax-return request.
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist said that Mnuchin should emphasize that tax data should be private information.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/437500-tax-return-fight-tests-mnuchins-loyalty-to-trump
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