Neal, Ways and Means Democrats Demand Investigation into the GOP’s Weaponization of the Internal Revenue Service
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) led Committee Democrats in demanding investigations into reporting from the Wall Street Journal that the Trump Administration plans to use the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to illegally target taxpayers based on political beliefs. According to the reporting, the Trump Administration is encouraging the IRS to facilitate criminal investigations into Democratic donors and “left leaning” groups, and a senior IRS official has already compiled a list of potential targets, including major Democratic donors.
In a letter, written to Acting Inspector General for Tax Administration Heather M. Hill, Ways and Means Democrats demanded an investigation into the allegations.
“This report is reminiscent of President Nixon when he directed the IRS to audit and harass his ‘political enemies,’” the lawmakers wrote. “Section 7217 prohibits the President, the Vice President, any employee of the executive office of the President, and any employee of the executive office of the Vice President from requesting, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the IRS to conduct an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer.”
In a separate letter, written to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), Democrats requested the Committee meet with Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent to discuss the increasingly alarming lawlessness and turmoil at the agency.
“Americans all across this country are experiencing the hardship and growing chaos created by an out-of-control President with an out-of-touch agenda under one-party Republican rule in Washington.” Ways and Means Democrats closed, “Given these urgent matters, we request that you immediately call a special meeting of the Committee.”
The members also recalled recent statements from Republican members of the Committee:
“Americans don’t want to live in a nation where big government has the power to silence free speech . . . they just want to live freely and without fear that an Internal Revenue Service . . . agent will show up at their doorstep.”—Chairman Jason Smith
“Americans should be able to donate to causes they believe in without fear of retribution from Washington bureaucrats… because of their political beliefs. In our democracy, it is simply un-American to hamper any individual’s right to exercise their personally held religious and political views.”—Tax Subcommittee Chairman Mike Kelly (R-PA)
It is well established that the IRS must do its work impartially. The Committee has investigated this issue in the past, with agreement that taxpayers should not be politically targeted. Taxpayers must be able to rely on the IRS to serve them efficiently and impartially, and the IRS must never be used for political retribution.
Read the full letter to Acting Inspector General Hill HERE.
Read the full letter to Chairman Smith HERE.
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