Presidential Debate Moderator Lester Holt Asks Trump To Justify Not Releasing His Tax Returns

Holt: “You're Perfectly Free To Release Your Taxes During An Audit”

From the September 26 edition of First 2016 Presidential Debate:

Video file

LESTER HOLT (MODERATOR): Mr. Trump, we're talking about the burden that Americans have to pay, yet you have not released your tax returns. And the reason nominees have released their returns for decades is so that voters will know if their potential president owes money to, who he owes it to, and any business conflicts.

Don't Americans have a right to know if there are any conflicts of interest?

DONALD TRUMP: I don't mind releasing. I'm under a routine audit, and it will be released, and as soon as the audit is finished, it will be released.

[...]

HOLT: The IRS says an audit of your taxes -- you're perfectly free to release your taxes during an audit. And so the question, does the public's right to know outweigh your personal --

TRUMP: Well, I told you, I will release them as soon as the audit. Look, I've been under audit almost for 15 years.

Previously:

Here Are All The Reasons Media Think Trump Is Not Releasing His Tax Returns

Watch Trump's Campaign Manager Dodge Questions About Tax Returns

CNN's Jeffrey Lord: Trump Shouldn't Release His Tax Returns Because People Will Ask Questions About Them