If Trump had released his tax returns, so much would have changed: Analyst

Investigation Origins & Focus - The New York Times initiated an investigation into Donald Trump's finances starting in 2016, driven by a lack of transparency regarding his tax returns [2][3][4] - The investigation revealed that Trump received hundreds of millions of dollars from his father and that his fortune was enhanced by tax fraud [6] - The investigation highlighted the Trump Organization's practices with appraisals, particularly concerning low valuations for tax benefits [6][7] Legal & Ethical Concerns - Accusations of real estate fraud are central to both James' indictment and her civil fraud case against Trump, although the sums involved differ significantly, with $18,933 in one case and millions at stake in the other [9] - There are perceptions of political motivation behind the legal actions against Trump, with claims that the investigation was initiated with a predetermined outcome in mind [15][16] - Trump is suing The New York Times for $15 billion over their reporting on his finances, a suit the newspaper intends to fight vigorously [17] Tax Transparency & Disclosure - Trump repeatedly promised to release his tax returns during his campaign but never did [3][8] - The failure to release tax returns fueled scrutiny and potentially exacerbated legal challenges [11]