Bloomberg’s John Heilemann: The Media Should Challenge Trump On His Refusal To Release His Tax Returns

Heilemann: “Every Time We Sit In Front Of Him” We Could “Make It Clear To Him That It's Not Okay That He Violate What Has Become A Norm In American Elections”

From the July 28 edition of MSNBC’s Morning Joe:

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MARK HALPERIN: I asked him about it on Friday and he said he'll be happy to do it after the audits are done. We've been through it, around and around on this with him. But he could release it if he wanted to.

JOE SCARBOROUGH (HOST): But Paul Manafort now says no, he’s not going to John. Its unprecedented 

JOHN HEILEMANN: Its unprecedented, it's ridiculous, its outrageous and you know, we've tried as often as possible to try to put pressure on him. There’s only so much we can do, we can't literally try to pry these audits out of his hands. But I think to the extent that the press can make this an issue for him, for the purpose of not of his partisan but because of the tradition. We could continue to try every time we sit in front of him make it clear to him that it's not okay that he violate what has become a norm in American elections over the past 30 or 40 years. 

[…]

SAM STEIN: Four years ago, Harry Reid did put pressure on myth Romney suggesting that he had never paid taxes. That was a turning point, that was a pressure point. Eventually Romney did release one year. The problem with Trump is I don't think he feels that sense of shame. There's nothing that anyone can say that will make Trump change his tune on this. And I agree with John. This is not a matter of politics. This is a matter of tradition and transparency that needs to be upheld. And every time someone interviews Donald Trump, that should be a question that they ask. 

 
Previously:

Trump Uses Fox's Greta Van Susteren To Justify Not Releasing Tax Returns

CNN's Tapper Grills Trump Supporter On Trump's Refusal To Release Tax Returns

Editorial Boards Call On Trump To Release His Tax Returns