--- title: Harry Reid: No Regrets Over False Romney Charges description: "Romney didn't win, did he?" canonical: https://time.com/3765158/harry-reid-mitt-romney-no-taxes/ author: Alex Rogers article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-31T14:40:58.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:59:31.282Z article:section: Politics og:title: Harry Reid: No Regrets Over False Romney Charges og:description: "Romney didn't win, did he?" og:url: https://time.com/3765158/harry-reid-mitt-romney-no-taxes/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8fa2182877e7b69/6987858dcd1bba2ab56f5e51/harry-reid-senate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Harry Reid og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Harry Reid: No Regrets Over False Romney Charges twitter:description: "Romney didn't win, did he?" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8fa2182877e7b69/6987858dcd1bba2ab56f5e51/harry-reid-senate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Harry Reid: No Regrets Over False Romney Charges > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Take a Tour of the Capital Dome and See Why It Needs Repair [Watch (HLS stream): Take a Tour of the Capital Dome and See Why It Needs Repair](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6zuady2c.m3u8) (2:32)  _Published 2013-12-20. With 1,300 cracks, the U.S. Capital Dome is long overdue for a touch-up._ by [Alex Rogers](https://time.com/author/alex-rogers/) ## Alex Rogers Mar 31, 2015 2:40 PM UTC  Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. adjusts his glasses as he speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 24, 2015. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. adjusts his glasses as he speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 24, 2015. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP by [Alex Rogers](https://time.com/author/alex-rogers/) ## Alex Rogers Mar 31, 2015 2:40 PM UTC Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has no regrets with falsely accusing Mitt Romney of paying zero taxes for ten years during the 2012 presidential elections. “So the word is out that he has not paid any taxes for ten years,” Reid said on the Senate floor in August 2012\. “Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn’t.” Under criticism and repeated denials by Romney, Reid later put out a statement backed by an “[extremely credible source](http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/08/reid-extremely-credible-source-said-romney-didnt-pay-130987.html),” which turned out to be billionaire Jon Huntsman, Sr, the father of the former Utah governor and Romney rival, according to [_Double Down_](http://swampland.time.com/2013/11/04/book-opposition-research-drove-biggest-news-stories-of-2012-campaign/)by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann_._ PolitiFact rated Reid’s allegation “[Pants on Fire](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/06/harry-reid/harry-reid-says-anonymous-source-told-him-mitt-rom/).” When asked about his comments in [a new interview by CNN’s Dana Bash](http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/31/politics/harry-reid-retirement-senate-legacy/), Reid, who recently announced he would retire in 2017 after his term is up, rebuffed those who said his attacks were “McCarthyite.” “Well, they can call it whatever they want,” Reid said. “Romney didn’t win, did he?” ## Transcript >> The Capitol Dome, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. We got a rare tour inside the dome, more than 200 feet up in the air where you can really see some of the damage-- a long crack in the window, rust eroding the dome's ornaments and underlying structure. Architects count more than 1, 300 cracks in the Capitol Dome caused by wind, rain, and sun threatening the historic frescos inside. >> When the rust develops between the plates, it binds the plates from moving, and that creates enormous pressures within the ironwork. >> This spring, a massive two- year renovation will start. It's no easy task. The dome is made of 9 million pounds of iron. >> So, I'm gonna lift this coffer-- >> With an incredibly thin exterior shell as demonstrated here. When the Capitol was first built in the late 1700s, this dome didn't exist. It was added 150 years ago. Taking us through narrow, steep staircases behind its walls, the architect was eager to show off the dome's beauty, why it is so important to restore. >> To get up here, we had to walk hundreds of stairs-- very narrow, very treacherous staircase. But boy, was it worth it. Look at the view. Up and all the way down. >> From famous frescos, including Washington ascending to heaven to dramatic acoustics high inside the rotunda. >> So, you had to be very careful what you're saying when you're up here because anyone on the opposite side can hear you. Please be very careful and dock as you go through the doorway. >> Then, to the breath- taking view outside. >> All the way up here, 260 feet in the air, this is what you get to see. >> It's really clear from up here, the Capitol is the focal point of the city's design. >> The access of the mall, Maryland Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, all radiating from the central point. >> Starting this spring, the dome will be wrapped in scaffolding and stay that way through the renovation. Congress already approved $ 59 million for the restoration. Still, these costs tend to explode. >> So, can you guarantee that you're not gonna go over budget? >> Guarantee. That's a big word. Well, we're pretty confident, I'll give you that. >> It has been meticulously planned in the works for years. >> It's just something that has to happen. 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