DON LEMON (HOST): Alright, let's talk about taxes, because that’s been an issue lately, alright? Here is what Donald Trump told the AP, he said that quote, “there nothing to the learn from them”, meaning releasing his tax return. Mitt Romney though is slamming your boss over this and here’s what he is saying, “It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters ... There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump’s refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them.” So, Donald Trump criticized Mitt Romney back in 2012 for not releasing his sooner. Donald Trump has said that he is not releasing it because he is under audit. Richard Nixon released his under audit. Why are you giving the Democrats and the #NeverTrump people something to criticize him over? Why not just release them?

PAUL MANAFORT: Well the #NeverTrump people have lost, and so they’re not relevant anymore --

LEMON: Is Romney right? Is there a bombshell?

MANAFORT: No. I mean, I have not seen Donald Trump’s tax returns. He says that he’s being audited and that’s the reason why he is not releasing them. I accept that. The bottom line is people know he is a wealthy person, people know, see what he’s built. His business empire is obvious in almost any state that you go to. That’s not an issue. What’s an issue here is the future of the United States, making America great again and these are all issues by people who are trying to distract Donald Trump from presenting his vision for America. The American people aren’t calling for his tax returns to be released. The American people want to know what he’s going to do to change the gridlock in Washington.

LEMON: But I have to disagree with you, a lot of people are wondering because his whole thing is that he is built on his wealth, right? That he is a wealthy businessman, he knows what he is doing business-wise, and the tax returns are an example of that.

MANAFORT: No, the tax returns are an example of maybe the success, but the bottom line of what his real success is what he has built in this country. People are interested in him because he gets things done and because he’s presented an image, a vision of what is wrong with America. And the American people, he understands what’s bothering them. He understands the angst, and as a consequence, we had this overwhelming victory over the last primary process. The tax returns have nothing to do with why Donald Trump is in the strong position he’s in today.

LEMON: But it does if that is your raison d'etre, if that is your reason for being, for existing, where you’re saying, I am a strong businessman. I can help this country. And people see that the tax returns, as I said, are an example of that. The question is, you said that he’s not releasing them because he’s being audited. There have been other people who have released their tax returns being audited. If there’s nothing wrong, if he doesn't anticipate that there’s anything wrong, that he has done his taxes correctly, why not release them anyway? There’s nothing, the IRS doesn’t say you can't release your tax returns if you are being audited.

MANAFORT: I’m not his accountant. I don’t know why. He said it’s an audit, I accept that as the answer. It’s not an issue.

Previously:

Will Media Give Trump A Pass On Not Releasing His Tax Returns?

Rachel Maddow: “It Doesn't Matter If You're Being Audited,” Trump Can Still Release His Taxes

Bloomberg's Heilemann Challenges The Media “To Make Sure That Trump Does Pay A Price” For Not Releasing His Taxes