The IRS turned over Nixon's tax returns the same day a congressional panel asked for them

[sl8]

From https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/25/irs-turned-over-nixons-tax-returns-same-day-that-congressional-panel-asked-them/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.93762486b066

The IRS turned over Nixon’s tax returns the same day a congressional panel asked for them


Letters released July 25 show an IRS commissioner immediately turned over President Richard Nixon's tax returns when a congressional panel sought them, a contrast with the Trump administration. (AP; Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

By Jeff Stein July 25 at 6:47 PM

The Internal Revenue Service turned President Richard Nixon’s tax returns over to a congressional committee the same day in 1973 that the panel requested them for a review, according to letters released by House Democrats on Thursday.

The newly released documents appear to contradict the Trump administration’s claims that House Democrats’ demands for the president’s tax returns are “unprecedented,” and suggest a split between this administration and past IRS officials over the interpretation of the law.

On Dec. 13, 1973, Laurence N. Woodworth of the Joint Committee on Taxation asked the IRS commissioner to review Nixon’s tax returns from 1969 through 1972, according to the documents. Nixon had asked the congressional committee to review the documents amid the widening Watergate scandal.

In a letter to the committee also dated Dec. 13, 1973, IRS Commissioner Donald C. Alexander said that enclosed in his response were attachments of “true copies of the original joint federal income tax returns filed by Richard M. and Patricia R. Nixon” for the years requested.

[...]

More at link.

[FBaggins]

1. "Nixon had asked the congressional committee to review the documents "

That’s obviously an entirely different scenario.

You can give the IRS permission to release your tax information to others. In fact it happens every day in the mortgage business (though many may not realize it).

[sl8]

2. Yes, the scenarios differ, but their point is that the congressional request is not unprecedented.

The article does get into the discussion how the two situations differ, in later paragraphs.

[FBaggins]

3. To me it would come down to the request letter

If it mentions their authority under 6103(f) then I would agree. If it says that the request is due to permission from the taxpayer... it really doesn’t establish anything.

[Bettie]

4. Nixon was a lot less dishonest and outright criminal

than the current occupant of the White House.

He wasn't a good guy, but in comparison, if I had to choose one, it wouldn't be Trump.