Agent feared leak of Trump tax returns could affect election
BATON ROUGE, La. — Less than two weeks before Election Day, federal agents descended on a hotel lobby to meet a Louisiana private investigator they believed had illegally tried to obtain Donald Trump’s tax returns.
At the time, the agents didn’t know if Jordan Hamlett had been successful — and they feared a public release of Trump’s tax returns could influence the U.S. presidential election, according to a transcript of testimony obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
The agents worried Hamlett could be armed and orchestrated an elaborate operation at the hotel on Oct. 27, with plainclothes officers blending in with guests at the Embassy Suites in Baton Rouge. Other officers took up positions outside.
Authorities now say Hamlett was not able to get Trump’s tax returns. He has been charged with misrepresenting his Social Security number, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.