On Tuesday, 45th President Donald Trump turned to Truth Social to attack the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for paying a visit to Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi’s residence earlier this month while he was in front of the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.
Trump said it was fascinating that the IRS made a strange house call on Matt Taibbi while he was testifying about the Twitter files and “all sorts of bad government acts.” Trump posted on Truth Social; it’s not a coincidence; it’s just “brazen & stupid!”
An IRS agent turned up suddenly at writer Matt Taibbi’s New Jersey home on the same day he was voluntarily appearing before Congress in Washington, D.C.
Trump went on to state that what was even more “brazen & stupid” was the way they had handled him, by “leaking information (which is illegal)” and making a deal and “then breaking it for strictly political reasons,” said the GOP candidate. Trump said he had made a deal before running for president, and they broke it. Trump added that they were “worse than a Tea Party and Evangelicals.”
Trump said he could have easily struck a very nice deal with the IRS during his four years as president but deemed it improper. He added that he had an agreement from before his presidency that they chose not to honor. Trump said he is now seeking the original contract, without late modifications in the laws and regulations that would make the deal more “hard to make.” Most people would think that after witnessing the Biden family take advantage of the government, he should have struck a deal during his tenure, but that was a “CONFLICT” of interest to him.
Taibbi was directly engaged in disclosing the “Twitter Files,” which are installments of behind-the-scenes papers released by new Twitter CEO Elon Musk that illustrate how the social media network formerly suppressed material and users, among other things.
Taibbi appeared before the newly formed Republican Select Subcommittee regarding the Weaponization of the Federal Government on March 9, that same day an IRS agent paid an unannounced visit to his residence.
“What an amazing coincidence,” said Michael Shellenberger, who was also working with Musk and Twitter and testified the same day.
Musk tweeted Monday evening that the news was odd. Numerous additional people pointed out the behaviors were suspicious and far from coincidental.
Members of Congress also spoke up. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated that this is disgusting. The IRS has a problematic history of targeting Democratic political opponents, and Cruz added that the IRS should not be in the business of harassing people.
Jim Jordan, who heads both House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee, issued a pair of letters Monday to gain answers.
The letters were sent to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, requesting documentation or conversations about the approved inspection of Taibbi’s residence.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the agent eventually left a letter telling Taibbi to contact the IRS. Taibbi did, and the IRS informed him that his 2018 and 2021 tax forms had been rejected, but the IRS could not explain why they came to his house in person rather than sending an electronic notification.
The more pressing question is when the IRS began dispatching agents for unannounced house calls. When the IRS questions a portion of a tax return, it often sends a dunning letter and may also request further information from the taxpayer or tax preparer. If the IRS wishes to audit a return, a meeting is scheduled at the agent’s office. According to the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, it does not show up unannounced.
Taibbi has stated that he does not own the government money and is most likely due a refund. He also said that he has an account to file his returns.