Larson Calls for Immediate Investigation into Trump Weaponization of IRS Against Political Opponents

East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined every Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee to call for immediate investigations into the Trump Administration’s plan to illegally target taxpayers based on their political beliefs. 

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Trump officials are encouraging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to facilitate criminal investigations into known supporters of the Democratic Party and “left leaning” groups, and a senior IRS official has already compiled a list of potential targets, including major Democratic donors. 

“Chris Murphy said it best on the floor of the Senate: ‘The authoritarian takeover isn’t coming. It’s here.’ We’ve already seen Trump’s weaponization of the justice system — going after James Comey and Letitia James with sham indictments. Now, he’s trying to turn the IRS into a twisted, partisan tool – targeting Americans who stand up to him,” said Larson. “There ought to be a full investigation into this Nixonian-like campaign of political retribution. President Trump swore an oath to the Constitution, but he sees it as merely a suggestion to consider. We the people will not stand for his continued abuses of power.” 

Larson and his colleagues sent a letter to Acting Inspector General for Tax Administration Heather M. Hill, demanding an investigation into these reports. 

“This report is reminiscent of President Nixon when he directed the IRS to audit and harass his ‘political enemies,’” they 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.” 

The members also wrote Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, calling on him to convene a special meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump Administration’s plans to illegally investigate taxpayers and conduct mass layoffs at the IRS not authorized by law. 

“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.”   

Read the full letter to Acting Inspector General Hill HERE. 

Read the full letter to Chairman Smith HERE.