12 Senate Democrats Demand IRS Ouster Probe After Kenneth Kies Clashed With White House
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 22
12 Senate Democrats Demand IRS Ouster Probe After Kenneth Kies Clashed With White House
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 22
Summary
A dozen Senate Democrats asked Treasury’s tax watchdog to investigate whether Kenneth Kies was forced out after resisting White House pressure to target specific taxpayers through the IRS.
Their letter cites reports that Kies told officials federal law bars the president and other aides from asking the IRS to start or stop a particular audit or investigation; violations can bring up to five years in prison.
The White House confirmed Tuesday that Kies was asked to leave but said only that he was not a “team player”; the IRS has already replaced him with deputy Kevin Salinger as acting chief counsel.
The dispute adds to broader Democratic claims that Trump’s team is trying to steer the IRS for political ends, though any criminal case would depend on Trump’s Justice Department and is seen as unlikely.