No, Maine's governor didn't threaten to stop paying federal taxes | Fact check
The claim: Maine Gov. Janet Mills said the state would withhold federal taxes if Trump stops federal funding
A Feb. 24 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a statement supposedly made by Maine Gov. Janet Mills about President Donald Trump.
"'If Donald Trump stops federal funding to Maine, we the people of Maine will take out federal taxes from all paychecks and no taxes will be paid to the federal government.' – Maine Governor Janet Mills," the post reads.
The post was shared more than 1,400 times in three days.
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Our rating: False
Mills didn't say this. A spokesperson for Mills said the claim is false.
Mills did not make statement about withholding federal taxes
Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine if it doesn't follow his executive order barring transgender women from competing in women's sports. Trump raised the issue in an exchange with Mills at the White House, asking if the state would comply after the Maine Principals' Association said it would continue to allow female trans students to compete because the order conflicts with state law.
"We're going to follow the law, sir," Mills told the president. "We'll see you in court."
But there is no credible evidence that Mills threatened to withhold federal taxes should Trump halt federal funding to the state.
"The statement is entirely false," Ben Goodman, the governor's press secretary, said in an email. "Further, the action described in the false statement is illegal, per the Internal Revenue Code. The Governor respects the rule of law."
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Mills released two statements on Feb. 21, saying Maine would "not be intimidated" by Trump's threats and calling an Education Department probe into the state over alleged Title IX violations a "politically directed investigation" whose outcome is "all but predetermined." Neither statement includes the purported quote in the post.
There have also been no credible news reports featuring the supposed quote.
Paste BN reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Reuters also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources
- Ben Goodman, Feb. 26, Email exchange with Paste BN
- Office of Gov. Janet T. Mills, Feb. 21, Governor Mills' Statement on President's Threat to Withhold Education Funding from Maine
- Office of Gov. Janet T. Mills, Feb. 21, Governor Mills’ Statement on Notice of Investigation From U.S. Department of Education
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