{"id":397801,"date":"2019-03-02T04:02:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T03:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/push-intensifies-for-democrats-to-use-cohen-testimony-to-subpoena-trump-tax-returns\/"},"modified":"2019-03-02T04:02:07","modified_gmt":"2019-03-02T03:02:07","slug":"push-intensifies-for-democrats-to-use-cohen-testimony-to-subpoena-trump-tax-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/push-intensifies-for-democrats-to-use-cohen-testimony-to-subpoena-trump-tax-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Push Intensifies for Democrats to Use Cohen Testimony to Subpoena Trump Tax Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tax justice groups on Friday called on Democrats to make use of the most illuminating parts of Michael Cohen’s testimony at a House Oversight Committee hearing earlier this week\u2014arguing that his detailing of President Donald Trump’s long history of alleged tax fraud gives lawmakers ample reason to subpoena the president’s tax returns.<\/p>\n

Thanks largely to pointed questioning by first- and second-term legislators including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Cohen described <\/a>how he witnessed Trump devaluing assets to avoid paying taxes on them and shared the names of<\/span> specific Trump associates who also knew about this activity. Cohen also <\/span>alleged<\/a> that Trump’s son, Donald Jr., and former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg repaid Cohen $130,000 in hush money he had given adult film actress Stormy Daniels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ocasio-Cortez’s line of questioning was particularly credited by observers with building a case for subpoenaing the president’s tax returns, enabling members of Congress to compare the returns with his financial statements to confirm the fraud.<\/p>\n

The national advovacy group Tax March argued on social media that the Cohen hearing may open to door to a number of potential investigations into the president’s financial history.<\/p>\n

“The Cohen hearing demonstrated that there is a lot that Donald Trump could be hiding,” the group wrote on Twitter. “Democrats must move forward with obtaining and releasing Trump’s tax returns so the American people know the truth.”<\/p>\n

Americans for Tax Fairness also called on Democrats to use their control of the House to finally hold the president accountable for his alleged crimes.<\/p>\n

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Michael Cohen’s testimony has confirmed what most Americans already know, Trump is a TAX CHEAT! Congress must obtain his tax returns so we can finally see the full extent of his criminality, if any. #ReleaseTheReturns<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CW9pMMLYuo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 For Tax Fairness (@4TaxFairness) March 1, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

An in-depth New York Times<\/em> report published last October laid out allegations<\/a> that Trump’s empire was built on decades of financial deception, with the supposedly self-made billionaire actually reaping wealth from his father starting almost from birth, and saving millions in taxes by passing his inheritance through a fraudulent corporation.<\/div>\n

Cohen’s testimony finally provided Democrats with guidance on how to make the case for examining Trump’s tax returns and calling other witnesses to give further details on the president’s financial history.<\/p>\n

According to<\/a> the Washington Post,<\/em> the House Intelligence Committee is planning to question Weisselberg on Trump’s financial past. The panel has already called<\/a> Felix Sater, a Trump associate who worked with Cohen to develop Trump Tower in Moscow, to testify on March 14.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The House Financial Services Committee is planning to investigate the Trump Foundation, the president’s now-closed charity, which Trump used to pay for a $60,000 portrait of himself.<\/p>\n

“I think that’s an area that should be looked at, because I think the foundation has been used by him to avoid paying taxes on money he\u2019s earned,” Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) told<\/a> Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) told the\u00a0Post<\/em> that Cohen\u00a0“set a very rich table. We’re now looking at a 10-course meal.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has the authority to subpoena Trump’s tax returns, on Thursday called on Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) to move forward with demanding their release.<\/p>\n

“He brought out many situations where the tax returns are the only answer,” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, told<\/a> ABC News.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It’s time,” added Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) on Twitter.<\/p>\n

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According to Michael Cohen, Trump won’t release his #TaxReturns<\/a> because he’s afraid the scrutiny of them will lead to him facing “taxable consequences and penalties.” <\/p>\n

My other committee, @WaysMeansCmte<\/a>, has the power to obtain Trump’s tax returns. <\/p>\n

I think it’s time we did so. pic.twitter.com\/0NVDrQu5N4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) February 27, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n