Donald Trump's former accountant said the GOP nominee had "zero" input on his tax strategy during the 1990s.

Appearing on CNN's "At This Hour," Jack Mitnick, who worked with Trump until 1996, said the tax documents obtained by The New York Times were legitimate, and when host Kate Bolduan asked if Trump's net operating loss of $916 million was rare, Mitnick responded, "No. You don't come across it very often."

Co-host John Berman pointed out that nothing is "inherently illegal" about Trump's handling of the situation and Mitnick agreed, saying, "Those returns were prepared in accordance with the law and the regulations."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have both praised the real estate mogul's handling of his taxes calling him "smart" and a "genius."



But Berman asked if Mitnick agreed and what was his "experience in working with him [Trump], with his knowledge of the tax code? Was he brilliant in the way he used the tax code, smart and a genius?"

"No, those returns were entirely created by us," Mitnick replied, adding that Trump had "virtually zero" involvement.

When asked if Trump had tax code knowledge to "game the system," Mitnick said, "Not when I dealt with him."

Also appearing on NBC's "Today" show, Mitnick restated his claims that Trump did not know the tax code, saying, "As far as I know, and that only goes through late '96, he didn't understand the code. Nor would he have had the time and the patience to learn the provisions. That's a lifetime of experience."