LinkedIn exec offers to donate as much as $6.5 M if Trump shows tax returns

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has offered to donate as much as US$5 million (AU$6.5 million) to veterans if Republican nominee Donald Trump would release his tax returns before the Oct. 19 final presidential debate.

The LinkedIn Corp. chairman rehashed Trump’s 2012 promise to donate the same amount to charity when he dared US President Barack Obama to show the public his academic and immigration records.

Hoffman’s pledge stemmed from the crowdfunding effort of 26-year-old Marine Corps veteran Peter James Kiernan who hopes to initially raise US$25,000 (AU$32,500) and promised to donate the money to non-profit organizations assisting veterans like himself if Trump publishes his tax returns.

“Taking Trump’s own 2012 offer to President Obama into account, I’d like to assist Kiernan in his campaign,” Hoffman said in a Medium post.

“If Kiernan’s campaign hits or exceeds its target, I will match the total amount he reaches with a 5x contribution, up to US$5 million (AU$6.5 million).

“In other words, if Kiernan raises US$200,000 (AU$260,000) on Crowdpac.com, I’ll contribute US$1 million (AU$1.3 million) to the campaign. If he raises US$1 million (AU$1.3 million), I’ll contribute US$5 million (AU$6.5 million).”

Kiernan, for his part, has so far raised US$131,302 (AU$170,700) from 1,632 pledges made on Crowdpac as of press time.

Being a retired serviceman himself, Kiernan said he created the crowdfunding campaign to raise money for 10 veteran groups as well as to pressure Trump to release his tax returns for transparency’s sake.

“Every President since Nixon has released their tax returns as an important mechanism of transparency, showing Americans what organizations they support and are affiliated with. In seeking to do my civic duty as an informed and independent voter, I am starting a campaign to pressure Trump to release his tax returns.”

“Trump claims to love veterans, and so we’re asking him to put his money where his mouth is. These ten veteran groups all support causes that I personally believe in and that best identify with the current generation of millennial veterans.”

Keirnan added that anyone seeking to be the Commander-in-Chief should be held to the same standards as any service member who had been subjected to rigorous background check.

“The nation entrusts its defense to this small group of talented and determined patriots, in return for this responsibility the nation asks for honesty and integrity. I believe that to be the Commander-in-Chief of this group, you should be held to the same standards.”

The crowdfunding campaign was initiated less than two months before the Nov. 8 US presidential election.