U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks may no longer be a big fan of former President Donald Trump. But that doesn’t mean the Republican congressman from Huntsville believes Congress should release his tax returns.

In its final days as the majority, the Democrat-controlled Congress made public Trump’s recent federal tax returns covering six years. It’s the culmination of what’s been a years-long court battle after Trump bucked the tradition of presidents volunteering their tax returns for public review.

It’s not right, Brooks said Friday in a social media post on Twitter.

“Socialist Democrats hyper-partisan, illegal release of Donald Trump tax returns is nothing short of evil,” Brooks’ message said. “A citizen’s tax returns are protected. Dems’ lie about their motives and launch political nuclear first strike. Mutual destruction assured.”

While Brooks in his final months in office has become a harsh critic of Trump – telling AL.com in November that “Donald Trump has proven himself to be dishonest, disloyal, incompetent, crude and a lot of other things that alienate so many independents and Republicans” – the statement Friday perhaps should not immediately be translated into sudden support for the first candidate in the 2024 race for the White House.

Brooks’ message includes that tax returns are protected and, indeed, individual tax returns are not public record. The Supreme Court in November ruled the tax returns could be turned over to the House Ways and Means Committee, which released them publicly Friday.

Congress said it was looking to review the presidential audit program and had concerns with Trump having said multiple times that he had paid little to no tax over the years.

Brooks’ post also suggests the release of the tax documents sets a dangerous precedent going forward.

Brooks will leave Congress on Tuesday after serving six terms representing the 5th Congressional District. He did not seek re-election and finished second to Sen.-elect Katie Britt in the U.S. Senate primary earlier this year. Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong will be sworn in Tuesday to replace Brooks.