Tim Walz Calls On Scott Jensen, Matt Birk To Release Their Tax Returns

MINNESOTA — Democrats Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan continue to call on opponents in the race for governor — Republicans Scott Jensen and Matt Birk — to release their tax returns.

Walz and Flanagan released multiple years of tax returns earlier this year in an effort "to promote transparency," their campaign said.

"Like previous Republican and DFL candidates for governor, Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan have shown their commitment to transparency by releasing their tax returns," said Walz-Flanagan campaign spokesperson, Darwin Forsyth.

"Minnesotans deserve to know whether candidates running for governor and lieutenant governor have financial conflicts of interest that could impact our state. If Scott Jensen and Matt Birk have nothing to hide, they should release their tax returns."

"Does anybody care?" Birk asked last month, according to the Star Tribune. "You tell me what you're looking for and I can give it to you. This is another distraction. Nobody has come up to me on the street and said, 'Hey, I'm really interested in seeing your tax return.'"

In an August news release, the Walz-Flanagan campaign cited a Minnesota Public Radio report that said Jensen used $65,000 of campaign funds to buy copies of his own book.

According to RacketMN, Birk’s business received a $64,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020 while having only one other employee besides himself.