Key House Republican on Donald Trump's tax returns: 'Open up your kimono and show everything'


Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is no fan of Hillary Clinton — as chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, he has been front and center in the Clinton email investigation, which he plans to keep alive with a perjury inquiry. On CNN Wednesday night, Chaffetz told Jim Sciutto that Clinton should hold a long-overdue press conference if she wants to rebut an Associated Press story about Clinton Foundation donor access at her State Department and Donald Trump's "pay to play" allegations. Sciutto turned the conversation to Trump, whom Chaffetz has pledged to support.
"Does Donald Trump's refusal to release his own tax returns — which would show his business interests and might raise questions about potential influence on his own campaign of money interests, or if he were to be elected president — does that not raise the same questions?" Sciutto asked. "Shouldn't he be equally transparent on his business relationships, his investments, etc.?"
Chaffetz agreed, colorfully. "If you're going to run and try to become the president of the United States, you're going to have to open up your kimono and show everything: your tax returns, your medical records," he said. "You're just going to have to do that. It's too important. So both candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, should show both their medical records and their tax returns. Absolutely." Clinton has released nine years of her tax returns, and both candidates have released notes from their doctors; Trump is the first major party candidate not to release his returns since 1976. Sciutto asked Chaffetz if he would be just as zealous investigating President Trump as he would President Clinton, and Chaffetz appeared to have low expectations for the honesty of either candidate: "Hey, the Government Reform and Oversight Committee is going to be the place to win no matter who wins this election." You can watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Road trip: New England’s maple syrup season
Feature New England is serving up maple syrup in delicious and unexpected ways
By The Week US Published
-
Music Reviews: Mdou Moctar, Panda Bear, and Tate McRae
Feature “Tears of Injustice,” “Sinister Grift,” and “So Close to What”
By The Week US Published
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?
Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Trump hawks Teslas, slashes more federal jobs
Speed Read The Education Department cut its workforce in half ahead of an expected Trump order to shutter the agency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine agrees to ceasefire, ending US aid freeze
Speed Read Kyiv made peace with the Trump administration by agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in its war against Russian invaders
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
ICE arrests Palestinian advocate with green card
Speed Read Recent Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil has had his visa revoked, despite his status as a permanent resident
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump doesn't rule out recession as tariffs bite
Speed Read In an interview for Fox News, Trump acknowledges the economic turbulence caused by his tariffs but claims his policies will be worth it in the long run
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mark Carney selected next Canadian prime minister
Speed Read The political novice will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump eases Mexico, Canada tariffs again as markets slide
speed read The president suspended some of the 25% tariffs he imposed on Mexican and Canadian imports
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells Cabinet they are in charge of layoffs, not Musk
Speed Read The White House has faced mounting complaints about DOGE's sweeping cuts
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining House
Speed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published