Paul Ryan calls on Donald Trump to release tax returns. Donald Trump Jr. explains why that won't happen.

Donald Trump Jr. has a new reason his dad will not release his tax returns
(Image credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

After several promises to release his tax returns, Donald Trump settled on his current rationale for not releasing them in February: The last few years of his returns are under IRS audit. He reiterated that reason in an interview with The Washington Post on Thursday evening, even though the IRS has no rules against releasing returns mid-audit. Every major party presidential candidate has released his or her tax returns since 1976 — Hillary Clinton has released decades' worth — and Richard Nixon released his in 1973 even though he was being audited.

A huge majority of Americans, including a solid majority of Republicans, think Trump should release his returns. So does House Speaker Paul Ryan. "I released mine, I think he should release his," Ryan said at a news conference on Thursday, though he added that the timing is up to Trump. "I know he is under an audit and he has got an opinion about when to release those. I will defer to him on that."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.