“…It is time for your candidate to live up to the standards of transparency he places upon everyone else.”
![Chris Koster (D) [2016 file photo].](https://showmeprogress.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/img_2028b.jpg)
Chris Koster (D) [2016 file photo].
Chris Koster’s (D) 2016 gubernatorial campaign sent the following letter to Eric Greitens’ (r) campaign:
October 4, 2016
Austin Chambers
Campaign Manager
Eric Greitens for Governor
By Email
Re: Release of Financial DisclosuresDear Mr. Chambers:
Last Thursday, the Koster for Missouri campaign released copies of Chris Koster’s 2012 through 2015 personal U.S. federal and Missouri state tax returns, including the supporting worksheets and forms documenting all sources of income, covering the previous 4 years. With these disclosures, and in combination with the Missouri Ethics Commission filings, the voters of Missouri now have a clear and complete understanding of the amount and source of all personal earnings and campaign contributions received by Attorney General Koster.
For some time, Mr. Greitens has promised to release his own returns and disclosures only after Attorney General Koster himself did so. Yet despite that promise, your campaign now gives an array of excuses as to why you have not, and may not, release Mr. Greitens’ tax returns. This is pertinent information necessary for Missouri’s voters to assess what conflicts or contradictions exist between Mr. Greitens’ actual financial activity and his obligations should he be elected to serve as Governor.
Plainly put, just as your campaign has previously hidden the identities of multi-million dollar campaign contributors and supporters within the so-called “SEALs for Truth” and LG PAC committees, you are again keeping the voters of Missouri in the dark regarding the amounts and sources of money provided to Mr. Greitens during the last four years. This is unacceptable.
We call on you to release — by 5:00 pm Thursday, October 6th — Mr. Greitens’ detailed personal 2012 – 2015 federal and state tax returns, as well as those returns for Eric Greitens, LLC, including the supporting worksheets and forms documenting all sources of income for each return. These forms would include, but not be limited to, K-1s, W-2s, and 1099s, as were included in Attorney General Koster’s disclosure. Only with such candid disclosure is it possible for Mr. Greitens to provide the voters an equivalent assurance, as has Attorney General Koster, that no conflict or inconsistency exists between Mr. Greitens’ actual financial history, his campaign’s rhetoric, and his suitability to act as Governor.
Please consider the complete disclosures described above as an absolute condition in order for our campaign to continue negotiating with yours regarding the terms and details of the contemplated October 14th gubernatorial debate.
Your campaign and Mr. Greitens have repeatedly accused your opponents of financial conflicts, improper tax behavior, and lying. It is time for your candidate to live up to the standards of transparency he places upon everyone else.
Sincerely,
s/
Andrew P. Whalen
Koster for Missouri
What would the Donald do? Just asking.
“…Please consider the complete disclosures described above as an absolute condition in order for our campaign to continue negotiating with yours regarding the terms and details of the contemplated October 14th gubernatorial debate…”
That doesn’t strike us as bluffing.
