Presidential candidates have been releasing their tax returns since the early 1970’s. To a voter, this is vital information as it provides knowledge of to whom a candidate is in debt to, a candidate’s investments, how much in taxes were paid and the rate at which they were taxed etc. Being conscious of where a candidate’s wallet lies is important since it imparts a fair indicator of where their interests lie. Knowing this bestows voters a more accurate scope through which to view their presidential candidates.

Even Richard Nixon, the president behind Watergate, released his tax returns. However, GOP candidate Donald J. Trump has been shifty and evasive on the subject since last year.

According to an entry on Mr. Trump’s Twitter from 2015, his “‘taxes are under routine audit.” He assured the American people that the release of these documents would be granted after the auditing process was completed, as well.

That was over a year ago.

The debate on September 26, 2016 revealed that Mr. Trump was static in his position and did not intend to release his tax returns anytime soon.

Lester Holt, the moderator for the debate, said, “Mr. Trump, we’re talking about the burden that Americans have to pay, and you have not released your tax returns, and the reason nominees have released their returns for decades is so that voters will know if their potential president owes money to, who he owes it to, and any business conflicts.”

In response, Mr. Trump said, “I will release them as soon as the audit- look, I’ve been under audit for almost 15 years. I get audited almost every year, and in a way I should be complaining. I’m not even complaining, I don’t mind it.”

Though, due to recent events, Mr. Trump can no longer escape releasing his tax returns, as an anonymous figure has released returns from 1995 over the weekend.

The documents reveal that Mr. Trump had disclosed a loss of $916 million on his income tax returns and according to CNN, The New York Times reported that he “could have gone 18 years without paying federal income tax as a result.”

This is quite a mess he has gotten himself into, and five weeks before Election Day, too. It is probable Mr. Trump hoped he could keep dodging inquiries concerning his tax returns, yet it is apparent that he will not be able to evade the barrage that is sure to come his way.

How Donald will employ his beat-around-the-bush method is unclear, if at all possible. But perhaps we will witness just how “smart” (his self-given compliment concerning tax evasion during the debate) he is.