To: The United States Senate

No Tax Returns, No Confirmation Votes!

The Senate must refuse to confirm any of Donald Trump's political appointees until his tax returns are made public. Unresolved questions about Trump's business practices and financial ties to foreign governments have become a matter of national security. Without being able to see Trump's tax returns, there is no way for the American people to know the truth. Refusing to confirm Trump's appointments until he cooperates is one of the easiest ways the Senate can force cooperation.

Why is this important?

By Election Day 2016, it had become painfully obvious that Donald Trump was hiding something in his tax returns. The less troubling possibilities were troubling enough: that he had lied to the American people about his degree of business success, or that he had exploited tax loopholes that, while technically legal, would strike most Americans as improper.

But there are growing reasons to be concerned about darker possibilities: corrupt business practices that would make Trump vulnerable to blackmail by anyone who knew the truth, or financial ties to foreign governments that would amount to taking bribes once Trump took office.

Many members of the cabinet, and other political appointees (such as heads of independent agencies) wield significant power. Furthermore, in the case of lower-ranking political appointees, Federal law allows the President to reappoint them to higher positions in an acting capacity once confirmed by the Senate to the first position. Therefore, it is dangerous for the Senate to confirm any appointee who may have been chosen for improper reasons.

Many of Trump's nominees would arguably stand a good chance of being reappointed by Trump's successor were he to resign or be removed from office with their appointments still pending. However, even with Trump's less-controversial nominees, it would be deeply embarrassing for the Senate to have rushed their confirmations, if the worst suspicions about Trump ultimately proved true.

Offering Trump an ultimatum will provide Trump with a powerful incentive to resolve these questions as quickly as possible. So for the sake of the country, and the dignity of the Senate, we ask you: tell Trump you will not vote to confirm any of his political appointees until he lets the American people know the truth.