Journalist mailed Trump's tax return: 'Entirely possible' he leaked it himself

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Hill

A Pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist who was sent a President Trump's tax documents from 2005 floated that the president himself may have been the source.

“By the way, let me point out it’s entirely possible that Donald sent this to me,” David Cay Johnston said on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.”

“Donald Trump has over the years leaked all sorts of things,” he added. "Donald has a long history of leaking material about himself when he thinks it’s in his interest.”

“It’s a possibility, and it could have been leaked by someone at his direction. With Donald, you know, you never know. Yes, I think I have to include that in the list of possibilities of where it came from.”

-snip-

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/324020-reporter-entirely-possible-trump-leaked-2005-tax-returns

[elmac]

1. that would be my guess

they are being played buy a con artist extraordinaire.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. If that's true, they aren't being played *successfully*

because they (Maddow and Johnston) are quite aware that Trump could have been the source. There could be various reasons: To try to make Maddow and MSNBC look silly for overhyping the story (though that would be weak, since she knew exactly what she did and didn't have)? To try to distract from the Russia issue and the ACA repeal debacle? That won't work; those stories will be ongoing regardless of any other news. To prove that he actually did pay taxes? To try to scare the media off trying to get more tax returns be claiming airing them is illegal? But it's not illegal for the media to publish tax information they didn't obtain illegally.

One interesting thing is that the WH released their angry statement even before the story was aired. Does that mean that they leaked it, or that they are really upset that the tax return issue has been raised again?

[pnwmom]

3. Maddow sent the return to the WH for a comment, that's why the statement got released then. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. OK, that makes sense.

They sure got their panties in a bunch about it, though. I can hardly wait to see SCROTUS' tweets.

[Hortensis]

24. My first thought was, "This is distraction from WHAT?"

I did assume this 11-year-old return was leaked by Rump for some purpose, or purposes, and see nothing to discourage that suspicion.

Of course, distraction from what his tiny left hand is up to as usual, because he does it constantly. And perhaps also just trying to counter and defuse some of the powerful doubts his refusal to disclose have raised.

And...? Or...?

[hedda_foil]

4. Mine too. Just too innocent looking.

[Mira]

6. It made immediate sense to me nt

[Snackshack]

7. I think he is right.

"Leaked" tax doc that shows trump paid taxes in 05 does not hurt him at all. But it sure takes the focus off the real issues like trumpcare/Russia/wiretaps etc.

Trump is very good at distraction. He has been doing it all his life.

[world wide wally]

8. The tax returns don't mean squat now. Where were they 5 months ago?

We all know he is a fraud and a cheat, but he is already in office now.

I'm far more curious about the Russians
Now if Comey can just be honest for a change

[George II]

9. Maybe "John Miller" sent it to him?

[KittyWampus]

11. Or Wayne Tracer (Rex Tillerson's fake name)

[dalton99a]

10. Trump: "Not me - I wouldn't do that. Ask John Miller or John Barron."

[L. Coyote]

12. Dingh, ding, ding, we have a winner.

The one year he actually paid something ....

[dalton99a]

13. It was strategic.

[L. Coyote]

27. And, it says "Client copy" right on it. LOL.

[cstanleytech]

14. Wouldnt surprise me if he authorized it to be leaked.

What I dont get is why the whole bullshit lie that he couldnt release his returns because of an audit by the IRS, it just doesnt make sense unless there is something hidden in his recent taxes he doesnt want revealed.

[videohead5]

15. Bingo

Of course there is something in his taxes he does not want anyone to see.my guess is loans from Russian banks.

[Merlot]

16. How do we know the numbers are real?

Tax forms can be filled in, changed, whatever. If trumpft leaked them, what makes everyone so sure the numbers are real?

[andym]

17. Yup. Distraction from health care disaster..

Well better than a war or two.

[riversedge]

18. Last night Hannity was saying over and over, it was the IRS who leaked this.

[Tanuki]

20. I bet it was Meredith McIver, miffed at not being invited to the Inauguration,

or the SOTU, or Mar-A-Lago, and being kept out of the public eye since....well.....???

[OnDoutside]

21. What are the chances that a leaker would leak just enough of a Tax Return that shows Donnie

in a reasonably good light ?

[Posting Anonymously]

22. The tax document was "leaked" by Trump himself.

The tax document was "leaked" by Trump himself. The circumstances and the particulars are just too obvious. The only question is WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE RETURNS? Trump is the biggest con artist that ever lived.

[DeminPennswoods]

23. Don't overreact to DCJ's comment

The context is important. DCJ made that remark right after Maddow read the WH statement that, in so many words, threatened anyone else who might be thinking about leaking more Trump tax info. It was a comment made more to throw the hounds off the scent than anything else.

[mnhtnbb]

26. I agree. Sure, it's possible Trump leaked them. But I don't buy it.

I think it causes him more trouble.

Don't forget it is tax season. Plenty of people will understand the argument about Trump wanting to get rid
of the Alternative Minimum Tax and Johnston and Maddow made the point how that would personally benefit
Trump to the tune of millions of dollars. It's a conflict of interest.

No, I don't buy that Trump leaked the returns. And I think we're going to see more. I think this was a test
of how they'd be received. Somebody also has the back-up schedules.

[Vinca]

25. After Rachel got to what was actually obtained, it was clear this was

a Donald distraction. I was a little embarrassed for Rachel since she had a huge build up for something that turned out to be pretty much nothing. Without the supporting schedules it's impossible to gather much off the return. It may not even be a real return, but one cooked up in Trump Tower to show Trump actually pays some taxes.

[dawnie51]

28. of course.....

it's Trump. They send it to Johnston, who gives it to Rachel. When Rachel calls the WH to verify, they verify, so Rachel will run with it. Soon as she runs with it, they start screaming theft, privacy, etc. Typical Trump. Unfortunately for Trump, the country has become aware of his con artist tactics; now ANYTHING shady gets laid at his door first, because we know this is how he operates. A con has to remain in the shadows, his methods under wraps. This jerk is right out in front. He is toast.

[Kimchijeon]

30. yes, it does seem very likely. ugh.

[Kimchijeon]

29. Yes, it's very possible

[LisaM]

31. I thought it was an interesting show.

It certainly laid the groundwork for further discussion in a lot of area (most notably the Alternative Minimum Tax).

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. IMO its so obvious he did it

This has shades of the Dan Rather takedown. Where they purposely were given a xerox of document instead of the actual one, raising doubts about doctoring.

Releasing only two pages of a year where Trump paid the most in one year he probably ever has, without any other documents about how he made that money? Pu.......lease

[LiberalFighter]

33. Headlines can be misleading.

A critical word is missing from the headline so that it would be clearer.

Instead of "Journalist mailed Trump's tax return:"

"Journalist was mailed Trump's tax return:"