ZING

Kaine Compares Trump Organization to Octopus

Confronts Pence over Trump’s shady business dealings.

Tim Kaine took every opportunity to skewer Donald Trump in Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate, tearing into Trump for his shady business practices and refusal to release his tax returns. Calling the Trump Organization “an octopus-like organization with tentacles all over the world,” Kaine said Trump’s refusal to release tax returns was hiding potential conflicts of interest. While Pence simply looked on and shook his head, Kaine slammed the organization for its reported ties to Russia and noted that, unlike the Clinton Foundation, the Trump Organization is “putting money into Donald Trump’s pockets” from unknown business dealings. Kaine tore into Trump’s reputation for cutting corners in his business affairs, mentioning the numerous fraud allegations against Trump University and an “illegal contribution” to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This is the difference between a foundation that does good work, and a secretary of State who acted in accordance with American interests, and somebody who is conflicted and won’t share with the American public what he’s doing and what those conflicts are,” Kaine said.