Mitt Romney suspects Donald Trump is hiding a "a bombshell of unusual size" by not releasing his tax returns, a decision that disqualifies him from being the Republican presidential nominee.
Romney, who is no fan of Trump, posted a scathing attack against the New York billionaire on Facebook Wednesday after reports that Trump told the Associated Press that he would wait until after the November general election to make his tax documents public.
"It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service," Romney wrote. "Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity of a candidate's representations regarding charities, priorities, wealth, tax conformance, and conflicts of interest. Further, while not a likely circumstance, the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk to ignore for someone who is seeking to become commander-in-chief."
Trump has repeatedly attributed his delay in releasing the documents to an IRS audit of the returns that is under way.
"Mr. Trump says he is being audited. So? There is nothing that prevents releasing tax returns that are being audited. Further, he could release returns for the years immediately prior to the years under audit," Romney said. "There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump's refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them. Given Mr. Trump's equanimity with other flaws in his history, we can only assume it's a bombshell of unusual size.
Romney, who was the failed 2012 GOP nominee, said he released his "2010 tax returns in January of 2012 and I released my 2011 tax returns as soon as they were completed, in September of 2012."
Trump clarified what he meant to say to AP in a tweet Wednesday. "In interview I told @AP that my taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election!"
In interview I told @AP that my taxes are under routine audit and I would release my tax returns when audit is complete, not after election!
-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2016
