Obama can release Trump's tax returns per IRS code

[HillOfANight]

https://twitter.com/gregorykorte/status/776123036449857536

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[Joe Biden is your president. Deal with it.]

https://twitter.com/gregorykorte/status/776123036449857536

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Obama should troll Trump and do it.

[Sir Mohamed]

Oh please do us favor, Mr. President. The orange-skinned clown would turn into a red-skinned clown.

[Wells]

If he did, he would the the best president in history (as long as he also followed through with the lesbian farms).

[Dr. Arch]

To quote our good local forum (mostly) troll underwater friend:

[KingSweden]

As much as it would be funny to see, this seems like something that could massively backfire

[Yank2133]

Bad idea.

Even if Trump's returns are damaging, the media would focus on Obama being partisan.

[Santander]

Actually, the section of the IRC they are referring to, IRC § 6103(g), exists partly to prevent abuses of tax return information as was rampant in the Nixon era. It prohibits disclosure or redisclosure to people who are not at least of a certain executive pay grade.

So Obama can request any return from the IRS, but he can't just post it on Facebook.

[Erich Maria Remarque]

Putin can release all the emails that Lyin' Hillary deleted

[Xing]

But you see, it's unfair when Democrats play dirty like this.

[andrew_c]

Obama should not do this.  It would play into Trump's narrative that the election is rigged against him, and possibly increase his support.

[Joe Republic]

So Obama can request any return from the IRS, but he can't just post it on Facebook.

Fair enough.  Perhaps Obama can simply post rumors of what Trump's taxes contain on Twitter, with the source being "many smart people".

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

As much as it would be funny to see, this seems like something that could massively backfire

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

This is exactly what we need to put Trump over the top and cement his lead. It would also irreparably tarnish Obama's legacy. Do it, Barry!

[Hermit For Peace]

I don't think Obama is the kind of person to do something like this.

[cinyc]

Even though the President could ask for Trump's tax returns if he wishes, It is a felony, punishable up to 5 years in prison, to release tax return information to people unauthorized to receive it, like the press.  In fact, it's also technically a felony for the press to print or publish purloined tax return information, but that raises First Amendment issues.

[Buffalo Bill]

I'd like to see him do that.  Wouldn't be the first time Obama has done something for political gain.

[‼realJohnEwards‼]

This is exactly what we need to put Trump over the top and cement his lead. It would also irreparably tarnish Obama's legacy. Do it, Barry!

what was that about Trump supporters not being racist?

[Wisconsin+17]

how is calling him "Barry" racist?

"Dude, it's your name!"

[Erich Maria Remarque]

how is calling him "Barry" racist?

"Dude, it's your name!"

After the recent polls, there is sort of a meltdown among Dems

[Buffalo Bill]

This is exactly what we need to put Trump over the top and cement his lead. It would also irreparably tarnish Obama's legacy. Do it, Barry!

what was that about Trump supporters not being racist?

What's racist about his post on Trump's taxes?

[cinyc]

Even though the President could ask for Trump's tax returns if he wishes, It is a felony, punishable up to 5 years in prison, to release tax return information to people unauthorized to receive it, like the press.  In fact, it's also technically a felony for the press to print or publish purloined tax return information, but that raises First Amendment issues.

But none of that precludes him from pulling it, looking at it and then starting "many people are saying" style rumors, right?

Under the law, a report is eventually sent to Congress when the President decides to look at an individual's tax return.  Do you think the Republicans in Congress would let Obama off the hook if rumors start flowing from his office?

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

how is calling him "Barry" racist?

"Dude, it's your name!"

The real racists here are the president's mother and grandparents for calling him by that slur for ~20 years. Truly deplorable individuals who would probably vote for Trump. Bad!

[Coolface Sock #42069]

https://twitter.com/gregorykorte/status/776123036449857536

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Obama should troll Trump and do it.

I seriously doubt he'd do that.

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Bad idea.

Even if Trump's returns are damaging, the media would focus on Obama being partisan.