Cowards' and 'Henchmen': Reid Aide Fires Back at Republicans Over Romney's Tax Returns

In what is quickly becoming a case of high-profile name-calling, Harry Reid's chief of staff David Krone called Republicans defending Mitt Romney's decision not to release additional tax returns "cowards" and "henchmen" late Sunday.

(Related: RNC Chair Reince Priebus Calls Harry Reid a 'Dirty Liar' for Romney Tax Claim)

Krone told Politico: “They’re a bunch of cowards, and they’re avoiding the issue...Lindsey Graham, Reince Priebus — they’re a bunch of henchmen for Romney, and they’re all reading off the same talking points. They couldn’t hold a candle to Harry Reid.”

He continued: “What Harry Reid said is the fact of what he was told. To turn it around, all their childish rants this weekend about calling Reid a ‘liar’ and all that, it just shows you how scared they are that Harry Reid was telling the truth.”

Krone apparently failed to see the absurdity in condemning "childish rants" when his own boss has led the charge in that arena for the past week, claiming on the Senate floor that Mitt Romney hasn't paid taxes in ten years based on a "tip" from a yet-unnamed Bain investor.

But Krone was right when he said Republicans have been calling Reid a "liar."

RNC Chair Reince Priebus said on ABC Sunday: "Listen...I‘m not going to respond to a dirty liar [Harry Reid] who hasn’t filed a single page of tax returns himself, [then] complains about people with money but lives in the Ritz Carlton here down the street.”

CNN's Candy Crowley asked White House advisor Robert Gibbs whether the administration is really behind the attacks on Romney's finances Sunday, but Gibbs maintained the administration is not controlling the senator's actions.  Crowley remained unconvinced, asserting: “If Chicago wanted Reid to stop, he would stop, but Chicago doesn’t want him [to stop].”

Therefore, the term "henchman" may be a little more fitting for the likes of Harry Reid than Reince Priebus.

Krone concluded by, again, attempting to turn the tables on Republicans: “Who are these people to say Reid is not telling the truth? ...They’re not telling the truth.”

(H/T: Weasel Zippers)