Did Trump Leak His Own Tax Returns?

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[RoosterRedux]

Video Link

Sloppy videography, but the point is made. Trump has shown himself to be a master at controlling the media narrative. And we and the media know he is not only capable of doing so, but seems to enjoy it.

This video is certainly clumsy, but its points are well taken.

Here is a video I posted yesterday demonstrating Trump's propensity for media control pranks (Video Link).

Given that the tax returns delivered to the Times inbox had a return address of the Trump Organization (not merely Trump Tower as the subject video says), one must at least consider that Trump himself is behind this ploy.

[RoosterRedux]

I am not arguing in support of this claim that Trump sent the tax returns to the NY Times. I am merely suggesting the possibility of such given his rather playful relationship with the media...much to their own trepidation.

[RoosterRedux]

Ping

[madison10]

How is it helping him? The low information, non-taxpayers don’t have a clue.

[be-baw]

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Trump campaign leaked it. Look how quickly and well prepared Giuliani and Christie were able to defend it shortly afterward.

[Roccus]

As I posted this past Sunday.....

“I can picture the grin on DJT’s face as he placed the stamp on the envelope.

“We’ll never know for sure, but it would be pure genius. lol”

[gaijin]

Wait, during Debate #1 —which was 5 days before the tax return release— Hillary was spouting off about, “maybe he’s not AS RICH as he sez..!!!”

And, PRESTO..!

THAT is what the return did say..!

Doesn’t that seem A LITTLE suspicious..?

[RoosterRedux]

Trump does things and says things that dumbfound those of us watching, but in the end those things seem to serve Trump's purpose.

I haven't the foggiest notion about how such a strategy might help Trump.

But Trump has been punking the media for over 35 years...to great success.

[gaijin]

This is just carry-over from the very real time he DID punk the media;

“Yeah, I’m Donald’s publicist, lemme tell ya how it all went down...”

And all presstitute “geniuses” FELL for it..!

[Brilliant]

Most likely leaked by the NY state government I think.

[RoosterRedux]

If that were the case, Trump would march out his accountants to declare that these returns ARE NOT Trump's returns.

And, on top of that, Hillary and her minions are simply not that clever.

[sagar]

“non-taxpayers don’t have a clue”

I am beginning to think that tax paying is paying the gubmint behemoth and thus treasonous. Non taxpaying might just be the patriotic duty.

May be Trump needs to just say that he will show how to avoid paying into this parasitic system. He is a pro at convincing and mass media.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Net operating losses. Owning a business is full of surprises. Some years your expenses exceed your gross income, translating into a loss for the year. You may be able to deduct this loss against any other income you have, or carry it back to offset prior years’ taxable income or carry it over to offset income in future years.
“

[arthurus]

I suspected that from the beginning. It sent the Clintonoids barking up a dogwood tree looking for catnip.

[HerrBlucher]

punking the media

That would make a great tv series.

[arl295]

What if he leaked it but changed the numbers?

Make it looks like he hasn’t paid taxes for decades because of a “big” loss

1995 was not a good year for Trump but maybe the numbers are fudged to get Hillary to fall for it and NYT to loose all credibility over the issue

Debate #2 Trump comes back swinging with 20 years of tax returns at hand with him paying the highest taxes anyone on stage has ever seen

What an in your face moment that would be.

Hillary and the NYT would be destroyed at that point.

[Rusty0604]

The liberals are saying his ex-wife did it because he treated her so horribly.

[arl295]

I think he is waiting for the right moment

So far, Trump has not said if the tax returns the NYT published are real or not. He might be playing that game, but he is going to have the NYT dwell on it for a little while longer until BAM here are the real ones.

You never know, this is Trump after all

[RoosterRedux]

Doubtful. The leaks must have been made by NY, NJ, and CT.

That's too much of a coincidence.

And Trump staff doesn't have access to his tax records (I say this as a tax specialist a million years ago). Only Trump, his accountants, and his lawyers (and of course the state authorities) have access to those records.

This was most likely Trump or others at his direction.

[justlurking]

Doesn’t that seem A LITTLE suspicious..?

I think someone at the NY Times gave Clinton early notice.

But, let's look at the entire timeline:

1. On 9/10, a NY Times executive editor publicly states (at a Harvard conference) that he would risk jail publishing Trump's tax returns.

2. On 9/23, a NY Times reporter claims to have received tax returns in the mail.

3. The first Presidential debate was 9/25.

4. After authenticating the returns with Trump's former accountant (who violated client confidentiality), the NY Times publishes their article on 10/2.

5. Trump immediately threatened legal action.

I think Trump did send the NY Times the returns, because I don't think his former accountant would have authenticated the returns without Trump's permission.

But, the NY Times didn't obtain permission to publish the information. That potentially puts them afoul of both state and federal law.