Gingrich to release tax returns, challenges Romney

Newt Gingrich said today he'll release his income tax returns this week and challenged GOP front-runner Mitt Romney to do the same.

"The country deserves accountability and transparency," Gingrich said on NBC's Meet the Press. "I'm going to try to set the example to provide the leadership to do the right thing."

Gingrich said he'll release his tax returns on Thursday, two days before South Carolina's presidential primary.

Andrea Saul, a Romney spokeswoman, said the former Massachusetts governor's campaign will "look at the question of releasing tax returns during the next tax filing season."

She said in a statement that Gingrich "is in no position to lecture anyone on disclosure" because he has yet to release records about his work for Freddie Mac. Bloomberg News has reported Gingrich was paid at least $1.6 million for what he says was strategic advice.

"Instead of offering tortured responses to very simple questions about his work there, he should immediately provide the documents to the public," Saul said.

President Obama's campaign and his Democratic allies have tried in vain to get Romney, a multimillionaire, to release his tax returns. Here's what Romney himself has said in the past on the subject:

"I can tell you we follow the tax laws. And if there's an opportunity to save taxes we, like anybody else in this country, will follow that opportunity. But we don't have any current plans to release tax returns but never say never."

Presidential and congressional candidates file personal financial disclosure reports that give broad ranges for their assets and liabilities. Gingrich made at least $2.6 million in 2010 and his net worth is at least $6.7 million, according to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times of his disclosure report.

Romney's net worth has been reported to be between $190 million and $250 million, according to the Boston Globe.