The Wall Street Journal is calling on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to release his tax returns by the end of the month.
The newspaper's conservative-leaning editorial board wrote Friday that Trump must prove he is as successful in the business world as he says he is.
"One of Donald Trump's claims to presidential competence is his business and financial success, and so he should want voters to see the proof beyond the gilded staircases," they wrote. "He could enhance his credibility on the point by releasing his tax returns."
The Journal catalogued Trump's repeated dodges on the question of his tax returns. They noted that he said in January that "I have everything all approved," but said last week that the returns will still take several months.
"Waiting that long suggests that he'd wait until he wins or loses the nomination, which means before primary voters can get a look," the editorial said.
It warned Trump against falling into the same "bad political mistake" 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney made in waiting until two months before that election to release his returns, allowing Democrats to spread speculation about Romney's finances.
The Journal noted that Trump's rivals Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have not released their most recent tax returns, but both publicized their returns when running for Senate in recent years.
Trump on Wednesday accused the Journal of having it out for him,........"
Romney collapsed in one of the debates when the moderator asked him why he hadn’t released his returns and he said he might not. It’s journalistic malpractice that no one has yet asked Trump the same in the debates.
“The Journal noted that Trump’s rivals Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have not released their most recent tax returns...”
You don’t read what is in your own post? Is the Wall Street Journal the presiding authority over tax returns?