Politics

Trump’s Pick For IRS Commissioner Has Defended Him On Tax Return Decision

REUTERS/Mark Makela

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump has tapped tax lawyer Charles Rettig, who once defended Trump’s decision to withhold his tax returns, as his pick for IRS commissioner.

“Chuck served as chair of the IRS Advisory Council for almost 20 years.  He has also served as a member of the advisory board for the California Franchise Tax Board and was previously a member of the advisory council of the California State Board of Equalization,” the White House announcement said.

Rettig noteworthily has defended the President’s decision not to release his tax returns.

“Is there any legal impediment to Trump publicly releasing his tax returns? Absolutely not,” Rettig wrote in February 2016, adding: “would any experienced tax lawyer representing Trump in an IRS audit advise him to publicly release his tax returns during the audit? Absolutely not.”

Rettig will oversee the IRS as the Treasury Department rolls out Trump’s landmark tax reform achievement. Rettig is the first commissioner with a tax background in nearly 20 years. He will start the new job on November 11.

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