Sessions needs to prosecute MSNBC to the full extent of the law. Releasing a tax return to the public undermines the nature of the “voluntary” compliance fiction of the entire income tax system.
If people are concerned that their tax return might be made public because someone has a political agenda that opposes them, people might band together and refuse to comply altogether. Privacy is the most important element to compliance.
No one should be allowed to release a tax return of another person to the public without their written consent.
It doesn’t matter how this tax return got into the hands of MSNBC they should be prosecuted for publishing it.
IIRC at least one MSM outlet actually published an article begging people at the IRS to send them a copy of Trump’s return. That is solicitation of a felony. That is a crime.
If you solicit a crime, can you hide behind “freedom of the press”?
If I’m a “journalist” and solicit a snuff film, and then receive one and broadcast it, wouldn’t I be complicit in a murder? Would anyone even argue with that?