Trump Denies Leaking His Taxes: ‘I Have No Idea Where They Got It’

“It’s certainly not an embarrassing tax return at all but it’s an illegal thing,” POTUS tells Tucker Carlson

Donald Trump
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

In an interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson that’s to air later this evening, President Trump responded to questions concerning his 2005 tax returns being released Tuesday on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.”

“I have no idea where they got it but it’s illegal and they’re not supposed to have it,” Trump told the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” host, according to an early transcript released by Fox News. “It’s not supposed to be leaked and it’s certainly not an embarrassing tax return at all, but it’s an illegal thing they’ve been doing it. They’ve done it before and I think it’s a disgrace.”

The entire interview will air Wednesday on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET, which happens to be direct competition with Maddow.

On Tuesday night, Maddow revealed two pages from Trump’s 2005 return. Pulitzer Prize-winning tax reporter David Cay Johnston said he received a copy of Trump’s 1040 long form in the mail. The president mocked Johnston’s account on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/841966077005463553

On Maddow’s show, Johnston said the leak may even have come from Trump himself — or someone working for him.

“It’s entirely possible that Donald sent this to me,” Johnston told the host. “Donald Trump has over the years leaked all sorts of things, the very sleazy girl-on-girl pictures of the first lady in the New York Post may have come from Donald. The front pages of the state tax returns… that were sent to the New York Times… last fall may have come from Donald. Donald has a long history of leaking material about himself when he thinks it’s in his interest.”

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