Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election Tucker Carlson accuses Lindsey Graham of convincing Trump to talk to Woodward Trump courts Florida voters with moratorium on offshore drilling MORE (R-S.C.) said any candidate for the White House in 2020 must release his or her tax returns — including President Trump.

"Any candidate in 2020 should release their tax returns," Graham, one of the president's leading GOP critics, told reporters.

Pressed if he thought Trump should release his financial documents, Graham added: "If he's a candidate for president ... I think if you're a candidate for president in 2020, you should release your tax returns."

Trump bucked decades of tradition during the campaign by refusing to release his tax returns, citing an ongoing audit by the IRS. The revenue agency noted that he was free to release the information whenever he wanted.

White House aides have said the president has no intention of releasing them.

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In Congress, Democrats are preparing to double down on their demand that Trump release his tax documents.

Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow Deborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowDemocrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Battle looms over Biden health care plan if Democrats win big ACLU calls on Congress to approve COVID-19 testing for immigrants MORE (Mich.), Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperDemocrat asks for probe of EPA's use of politically appointed lawyers Overnight Energy: Study links coronavirus mortality to air pollution exposure | Low-income, minority households pay more for utilities: report OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium MORE (Del.) and Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: TikTok, Oracle seek Trump's approval as clock winds down | Hackers arrested for allegedly defacing U.S. websites after death of Iranian general | 400K people register to vote on Snapchat GAO clears way for Democrats to try to overturn Trump's payroll tax deferral TikTok, Oracle seek Trump's approval as clock ticks down MORE (Ore.), as well as Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) are holding a press conference urging Republicans to allow congressional committees to review Trump's tax returns.

Pascrell tried to force a vote earlier this week on a resolution to request Trump's returns, but it failed on a party-line vote.

Under federal tax law, the chairmen of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees and the Joint Committee on Taxation can request the Treasury to provide tax returns, which are then considered in a closed meeting.

Trump and his top advisers have repeatedly defended his decision not to release the returns. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said earlier this year that "people don't care" about the issue.

"The White House response is that he’s not going to release his tax returns," Conway told ABC's "This Week."

Democrats have introduced legislation that would force candidates for major political parties and the president to release their tax returns, but the proposals face an uphill path in the GOP-controlled Congress.