High-ranking Democrat balks when asked if Pelosi's tax returns should be released along with Trump's

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) quickly dodged a reporter's question Wednesday about whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should also have to release her tax returns if President Donald Trump is forced to do so, according to Hot Air.

The reporter's question was related to H.R. 1, a bill which includes a provision that would require the president and vice president, and all candidates for those offices, to release the previous 10 years of their tax returns.

"Should House Speaker Pelosi be required? Yes or no?" the reporter asked.

"That's a question that I think you should direct to Speaker Pelosi," Jeffries replied, quickly looking for the next reporter to ask a question.

Why would Pelosi be the only person who can answer whether her tax returns should be public? No Democratic politician would say it should be up to Trump whether he should release his tax returns.

What are Democrats doing now to get Trump's returns?

Democrats are currently attempting to use a little-known 1924 law to get Trump's tax returns without his consent.

According to the law, the chair of a congressional tax committee can look at anyone's tax returns. Republicans have used the law in the past to release conservative organizations' tax information when those organizations were having trouble getting tax-exempt applications processed by the IRS.

Democrats, who are now trying to use that law to technically gain the ability to release any individual's private tax information, opposed Republicans' use of the law back then.

Republicans are now opposing Democrats' attempt to use the law against Trump.

"Such an abuse of power would open a Pandora's box that would be tough to get a lid back on," Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) told Politico. "Where does it end? There is no end in sight for those whose tax information may be in jeopardy."

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the first paragraph, which incorrectly said this interview took place on Thursday.