Gavin Newsoms tax return bait-and-switch: An attack on democracy

Gavin Newsom promised to “release” his tax returns.He did no such thing.On Thursday, the governor allowed a few journalists to view his tax returns behind closed doors.Journalists were not allowed to make copies, take copies or publish the documents themselves; they could only take notes.Worse, Newsom only allowed handpicked media outlets into the room, including KCRA, the Associated Press, The New York Times, and Politico.

In a controlled process, they published their findings at 10 a.m.Friday under embargo.Newsom’s office excluded The California Post, though we led the push for his tax returns.The hypocrisy is thick.

Newsom attacked Trump for years for not releasing his tax returns — and then delayed doing so, himself.Now he wants credit for transparency.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Izzy Gardon, who runs Newsom’s obnoxious “@GovPressOffice” account on X, said: “Governor Newsom is the first Governor in California history to publicly release tax returns covering every year of his tenure in office.”But that is misleading.Newsom didn’t release his tax returns every year.

He waited until now to release four years of returns.The timing is no accident.Newsom and his wife, “First Partner” Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are under federal investigation — supposedly, concerning her taxes.In addition, Newsom will likely launch his 2028 presidential campaign as soon as the midterm elections are over, later this year.

The governor wants to create an impression for primary voters that he has nothing to hide — when, in fact, he has been hiding plenty, for years.And he still is.Newsom’s secret tax return “release” is a violation of the public trust, and an attack on the role of a free press in a democracy.The governor likes...