Donald Trump Jr. gives newspaper new reason why Trump won't release tax returns; Media pounces

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Donald Trump Jr. said the reason his father won’t release his tax returns is that people would ask “questions that would detract from (his father’s) main message”:

.@DonaldJTrumpJr: releasing dad’s tax returns “would detract from his main message.” https://t.co/TiNF1xJqRk pic.twitter.com/vcbGjamhCB

— Frederick Deknatel (@freddydeknatel) September 15, 2016

Um, isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?

Anyway, the Trib didn’t post a full transcript so we don’t know what else Trump Jr. said, but the remarks have already left a mark:

Pretty extraordinary. Trump kids admit it: Dad wants to hide the truth about his $$$ from voters. https://t.co/lZpyoZzMfW via @HuffPostPol

— Terry Moran (@TerryMoran) September 15, 2016

Donald Trump Jr.: If people saw my dad’s tax returns, it would hurt him politically https://t.co/pLt3vSGa6G pic.twitter.com/dFZVQMAugQ

— Intelligencer (@intelligencer) September 15, 2016

Donald Trump Jr. spills the beans, reveals real reason his father won’t release tax returns https://t.co/Xe2G9Mw8Wy pic.twitter.com/VLGVk0Xbta

— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) September 15, 2016

Yikes. Donald Trump Jr says his father won’t release tax returns bc ppl will ask Qs that “detract" from his message: https://t.co/tw2lK2hjJG

— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) September 15, 2016

Trump Jr: Dad’s Complex Tax Returns Would Prompt Too Many Questions https://t.co/muAUhnXQRb via @TPM

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 15, 2016

Donald Trump Jr. suggested reviewing his father's 12,000-page tax return would distract from other campaign issues https://t.co/wTJHEM4jlY

— POLITICO (@politico) September 15, 2016

We expect a clarification shortly.

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