Trick or Transparency: Keith Wofford Still Refuses to Publicly Release Tax Returns and Client List

USANEWSONLINE.COM DESK, NEW YORK — With eight days until New Yorkers head to the polls to vote for Attorney General, Republican nominee Keith Wofford is now trying to trick New Yorkers into believing he publicly released his tax returns. After weeks of pressure from Democratic nominee Letitia “Tish” James, Mr. Wofford’s campaign announced on Friday that his taxes would only be available for review in-person at his campaign headquarters. In contrast, Tish James publicly posted her returns online on August 10th. Mr. Wofford also claimed that his $4.5 million income last year “allows me to be completely independent of the political system.” In response, Jack Sterne, Press Secretary for the Tish James campaign, said: “Completely independent from who? New York voters? A man who makes $4.5 million from a law firm that represents the makers of OxyContin, vulture funds that pillaged Puerto Rico, and big banks that caused the subprime mortgage crisis can’t claim to be independent. Mr. Wofford is trying to pull a Trump by not publicly sharing his tax returns or the client list of his Wall Street firm, Ropes & Gray LLP. “It’s simply misleading to claim your tax returns are public, while limiting how and where New Yorkers can review them. If Mr. Wofford cared about independence and accountability, he would post his tax returns — and a full list of clients — online.” Mr. Wofford has also refused to disclose a list of clients from Ropes & Gray LLP. This refusal comes despite obvious conflicts of interest between the law firm and the Attorney General’s Office, including the firm representing opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma — which is being sued by the Attorney General’s office — in nearly 100 cases. Press Release.