Washington (CNN) Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said Wednesday that he would be "happy" to look into allegations in a report from the New York Times that says Trump helped "his parents dodge taxes" in the 1990s, including "instances of outright fraud."

"It's funny they wouldn't bring that up by the election (2016)," the Utah Republican told CNN's Manu Raju. "I'd be happy to look into it. But right now, I don't know enough about it."

Democrats, including Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton, often slammed Trump for not releasing his tax returns during the 2016 election. Clinton questioned what Trump was hiding by not releasing his returns, saying, "So you have got to ask yourself, why does he not release them?" during a May 2016 campaign stop.

When asked if Trump should release his tax returns, Hatch said: "He may have to -- he may have to give up those returns," but wouldn't commit to seeking the returns himself. "I don't know," he said. "I've been in so many things."

"If I was him, I wouldn't want to give them up," Hatch added.

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