Bloomberg News/Landov
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, wearing glasses, in the background.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday he would “follow the law” if Democrats request President Donald Trump’s tax returns.
“If I receive a request, which I presume from what I’ve read in the press I will receive, I will consult with the legal department within Treasury and I will follow the law,” Mnuchin said during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Democrats have said they are working on a plan to ask for ten years of the president’s tax returns under a 1924 provision of the federal tax code.
“It is happening. It [a request] is coming, so be prepared,” Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democrat of New Jersey, told the Treasury secretary.
Mnuchin said he could not speculate further on a request until he receives it.
“I’m not aware there has ever been a request for an elected officials tax return. We will protect the president as we would protect any individual taxpayer under their rights,” he said.
Republicans on the panel told Mnuchin that no taxpayer would want their tax returns made public.
Read: Republicans argue against ‘weaponizing’ tax code
