Warren: US Needs Law to Make Presidents Reveal Tax Returns

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Tuesday that President Donald Trump was "neck deep" in personal conflicts of interest, and Congress needed to pass a law requiring U.S. presidents to make their tax returns public, the Washington Examiner reported.

"There is a lot we can do about this," Warren said in a speech at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress. "We can pass legislation to require presidents to disclose their tax returns so that the American people can see any secret dealing."

Trump has consistently delayed releasing his tax returns, saying he was currently under audit. In an interview last week with The Economist, the president said he might wait until he leaves office to release his tax returns and stated, "Nobody cares about my tax return except for the reporters." He also said he looked forward to releasing them one day, because "I'm very proud of them actually."

Warren said it "set the example" for the president's aides that he did not release his tax returns or divest from family businesses.

Warren also criticized Trump over comments he made last week in a meeting with Russian officials maintaining he did so to "impress his Russian buddies" and he "admires [Vladimir] Putin's Russia." When Trump said he had the "absolute right" to share information with Russian diplomats, Warren claimed the president was "trying to set himself above the law."

• Trump 'Might Release' Tax Returns When He Leaves Office
• Michael Reagan: Trump's Woes Vanish If He Releases Taxes