Trump: IRS audits me because I’m a “strong Christian” [Watch Video]

Hotair ^ | 02/26/2016 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

Or maybe because, to quote Ben Carson, they’re looking at the fruit salad of his life. Fresh off of getting chased around the arena by a couple of lions, Donald Trump tried to explain to CNN’s Chris Cuomo why the IRS audits him so routinely, the excuse he gave during the debate for not releasing his tax returns. Trump claimed to be the victim of religious persecution:

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“I’m always audited by the IRS, which I think is very unfair. Maybe because of religion, maybe because of something else, maybe because I am doing this, but this is just recently,” Trump said, at the end referring to his presidential bid.

When CNN’s Chris Cuomo questioned the comment about religion, the real estate tycoon said: “Maybe because of the fact that I am a strong Christian … you see what’s happened, you have many religious groups complaining about that.”

Perhaps it has more to do with Trump’s complicated finances than it does with his religious affiliation, because let’s face it, the IRS may not have even known about the latter. Trump has affirmed his Christian affiliation, but it’s safe to say that he hasn’t exactly been one of the more high-profile followers of the church during the course of his life. Chris Cuomo can’t quite believe he’s hearing it, and asks for clarification on Trump’s claim of religious persecution.

The issue arose earlier this week when Mitt Romney publicly speculated that Trump was trying to hide something in his tax returns — either legal issues, or perhaps just that Trump has inflated estimates of his wealth to impress voters. Hugh Hewitt asked four of the five candidates on stage whether they would release their tax returns but started with Trump, who promised exactly one year earlier on Hugh’s show that he would release all his returns:

Last night, when reminded of this, Trump sneered at Hugh’s show while flip-flopping on releasing the returns:

Well, if he’s routinely audited every year, then why did Trump promise to release his tax returns when talking to Hugh a year ago? And what about an audit prevents people from releasing their returns, anyway? If they are the same documents provided to the IRS, then there’s nothing legally risky about providing them to other people at the same time. It may require a caveat that the returns could be modified after an audit, but tax returns aren’t held under lock and key during audits — and previous years certainly could be released.

Unless releasing tax returns are against Donald’s religion, nothing about these responses make much sense, except as a fruit salad of dodges.

[duckbutt]

I had my first audit since the early ‘70s last year. I itemize my deductions and the largest ones are spelled out. They are for church, and conservative/parachurch organizations. Coincidence? I don’t think so, given the leftward bent of today’s IRS.
BTW, I got a clean bill of health. they asked for the backup to those deductions, and they got a tick and tied (those who are accountants understand that phrase) of not only all the backup detail, but a spreadsheet that showed how it was spread out over the year.
Yup —depends on who you give to....i think that’s now a trigger for an audit....

[Thank You Rush]

“”I’m always audited by the IRS, which I think is very unfair. Maybe because of religion, maybe because of something else, maybe because I am doing this, but this is just recently,””

ALWAYS audited BUT THIS is just recently? Donald, you’ve been audited for years or just recently. Which is it?

In spite of marking my absentee ballot for this guy, I get a headache listening to his remarks - can’t take it back unless I make like a democrat and show up at the polls on the 1st to vote. Like last night saying that he probably reads the Bible more than any other person on earth!!! Could he be believed if he said the sun came up this morning? And I thought obozo and Hillary stretch the truth.

I say we “buckle up as it’s bound to be a bumpy ride” if he makes it to the WH...