Beto O'Rourke speaks at the University of Virginia on Tuesday. O'Rourke said on Wednesday that his family made charitable donations beyond what was itemized on his tax returns. | Zack Wajsgras/The Daily Progress via AP 2020 elections O'Rourke defends charitable giving record following release of tax returns

Beto O’Rourke on Wednesday said he made “thousands of dollars” in charitable donations not reflected in his tax returns, claiming his campaign is working to find evidence of contributions amid criticisms of the 2020 hopeful’s low giving rate.

The Washington Post's Jenna Johnson reported that O’Rourke told journalists that he and his wife, Amy, had made donations beyond what was itemized on his tax returns — which the former congressman released Monday night — because “it wasn’t important for us to take the deduction.”


The Texas Democrat published 10 years worth of his returns, becoming the latest primary candidate to respond to calls for transparency about their personal finances. In 2017, he and his wife reported an adjusted gross income of $366,455 and $1,166 in charitable donations — equating to a giving rate of 0.3 percent.

Speaking to reporters in Virginia on Wednesday, O’Rourke defended his relatively meager giving rate by saying he “didn’t expect to release his taxes because I never thought I’d be running for president.”

“We are trying to go back to some of these organizations to see if they can share with us, over the last 10 years, how much we have donated,” he said, adding that his family has also “donated time on the boards of nonprofits and, certainly, in public service and in public life.”

O’Rourke’s comments echoed his response to a question posed Tuesday at the University of Virginia by a college student who asked why the former congressman gave less to charity than her sister, whose income was seven times less than the candidate’s, according to The Dallas Morning News.

“I’ve served in public office since 2005,” he said. “I do my best to contribute to the success of my community, my state and now, of my country. There are ways that I do this that are measurable. And there are ways that I do this that are immeasurable.”

O’Rourke also came under fire Tuesday after The Wall Street Journal reported he and his wife may have underpaid around $4,000 by incorrectly reporting their medical expenses in 2013 and 2014, an error the candidate said he would amend “as appropriate.”

The former congressman is the latest primary contender rushing to quell potential fires ignited by the release of tax returns. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle in recent days since his returns — made public Monday — revealed he made more than $1 million in two of the past three years.

The backlash is mixed, however, with approval for those taking steps to be transparent, a dig at President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly rebuffed calls to release his taxes.

In addition to O’Rourke and Sanders, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kamala Harris of California and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee have publicly released varying years of their tax records. Several other Democratic hopefuls have pledged to do so, including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and South Bend (Ind.) Mayor Pete Buttigieg.