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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTRUMP'S IRS CHIEF HAS MADE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FROM TRUMP PROPERTIES WHILE IN OFFICE
https://www.citizensforethics.org/charles-rettig-trump-properties/September 1, 2020
Charles Rettig, the Trump-appointed IRS Commissioner who has refused to release President Trumps tax returns, has made hundreds of thousands of dollars renting out Trump properties while in office, according to documents obtained by CREW. Last year Rettig said it was his decision whether to turn over Trumps tax returns to Congress, under the supervision of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
An analysis of Rettigs personal financial disclosures for the last two years shows Rettig making $100,000 $200,000 a year from two units at Trump International Waikiki. Trump made a detour to visit the property during a trip to Asia in his first year in officea priceless promotional appearance for the business he still profits from as president. Rettig bought a 50% stake in the units in 2006, three years before the property opened, likely benefiting the future-president, whose company got 10% of total pre-sales.
Rettig isnt exactly advertising his Trump-based profits. In fact, theres no mention of Trump at all in the disclosures. The two properties are referred to only as Residential Real Estate Honolulu, Hawaii and Residential Real Estate (2) Honolulu, Hawaii. This isnt new. When he was first nominated, he failed to disclose the properties were in a Trump-branded building. At his confirmation hearing, he did not directly answer concerns about the properties, only saying he would serve in an impartial, unbiased manner.
Trump is the first president elected since Richard Nixon to not release his tax returns. Hes fought hard to keep them secret, taking his fight all the way to the Supreme Court. There are all kinds of reasons he doesnt want them made publicincluding the fact that they could point to potential criminal conduct. With Trumps name removed from some buildings as it began to hurt property values, we can only imagine how toxic it would become if a bombshell in his tax returns were released. Which means the IRS Commissioner has a vested interest in the success of the Trump brandand of preventing anything that could damage it.
Grasswire2
(13,566 posts)We used to use that word for corruption like this.
Boogiemack
(1,406 posts)corruption, greed, and crimes by those in power world-wide are the source and sustainer of ALL of the world's most serious problems. Despots stick together to wield power over their poor and ignorant subjects. They cling to each other. That is one reason Obama was so despised by the tyrannical men in power across the globe. It was amazing that he was able to accomplish what is did (that has now been overturned by Trump with more to come.)
The PEOPLE across the globe loved and admired the Obamas who were seen as a ray of hope for change for the better. Every international poll of the PEOPLE taken since they left office proves that. Angela, Abe, Trudeau and the Queen, I believe, saw this and were attracted to them. The rest showed us who they were the first time and have gravitated to Trump so they could play him like a fiddle. No one understands him better then KIM and XI.
Do not fall further into despair. Not everyone on the SCOTUS will be there forever and a few may surprise us. We can hope can't we?
Blue Owl
(50,349 posts)We are being de-sensitized to the brazen crimes being committed and normalized by this administration