Corey Lewandowski hopes Donald Trump sues The New York Times 'into oblivion'

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last updated 4 October 2016

Donald Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski thinks the Republican presidential candidate ought to sue The New York Times "into oblivion" for publishing his leaked tax returns over the weekend. "It's a crime to release someone's taxes and publish them without their permission," Lewandowski, now a CNN commentator, said Monday on CNN's New Day. He added: "There is no national security interest in Donald Trump's tax returns, that's a fact. And The New York Times should be held accountable, and I hope he sues them into oblivion for doing this."

The Times report revealed Trump could have legally avoided paying federal income taxes for as many as 18 years, because of a $916 million loss he declared in his 1995 tax returns. Trump's campaign did not deny the documents' accuracy, only pointing out that the return was "illegally obtained."

Lewandowski, on the other hand, wasn't convinced the returns were accurate, even though their authenticity was corroborated by the accountant who prepared them. "If it comes out that these aren't accurate," Lewandowski said, "where is the recourse?"