Republican senators start to question Trump’s audit immunity deal

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Senate Republicans helped block half of President Donald Trump’s deal with the IRS ($1.8 billion “anti-proliferation” fund). Now they’re starting to express concerns about the other half of the deal: Trump’s audit immunity.

Five GOP senators told Semaphore they have questions about the Justice Department’s agreement last month to shield Trump, his family and his businesses from IRS audits or investigations. Some said they openly opposed audit protection.

The issue could impact the confirmation of Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Blanche promised to brief him on the agreement at a recent private meeting ahead of next month’s hearing on the Judiciary Committee, where Cornyn sits and where a one-seat Republican majority makes every vote important.

Blanche emphasized to Cornyn that the “completely retroactive” agreement does not exempt Trump from “future tax-related audits,” the senator told Semaphore. But Cornyn refuses to support Blanche until he knows more: “I’m not ready to vote against her. I’m not ready to vote for her until we get clarity on this.”

The audit agreement was announced alongside a $1.8 billion fund designed to compensate people who claim they were unfairly prosecuted by the federal government, including those convicted of participating in the Capitol riot. The Trump administration has since backed away from that fund, but not from Trump’s audit immunity.

under immunity to agreeTrump and his network are immune from audits or other federal investigations into past tax returns. It’s a deal that former IRS and DOJ officials warned about Monday exceeds scope Part of the underlying lawsuit Trump filed after a former IRS contractor leaked his return.

Cornyn is not the only lawmaker who wants more details about the deal, including whether it prevents future audits of past filings or will only touch on certain past filings.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told Semafor that he expects senators to propose amendments that would repeal the law, adding that he “strongly” disagrees: “No American should be above the law, not even the president — and maybe not even the president.”

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she thought the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the IRS, “should take a look” at the issue.

“Any immunity agreement deserves scrutiny,” Collins said. “Strangely, there is generally less discussion about the tax issue in the press and elsewhere [than the anti-weaponization fund]but I’m not clear whether this is retroactive or prospective; whether it applies to a specific situation or whether it is all-encompassing.”

Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) declined to comment on the IRS settlement, saying it “relates to matters before the Finance Committee.” But another member of the GOP delegation, Sen. of Oklahoma. James Lankford said he, too, had questions about his lines, telling Semaphore that “we’re still trying to get the rest of the details.”

“I didn’t like it and wanted more information about it,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told Semaphore.

Murkowski added: “I’m trying to look at this through the eyes of Alaskan citizens who say, ‘Wow, this is a very nice deal for the president, his family and his business.'”

There may be agreement saved the president There is liability for more than $100 million in investigations that are currently closed. The Justice Department said it was trying to address senators’ concerns.

When asked about the meeting with Cornyn, a Justice Department spokesman said, “The Justice Department will respond to any questions or statements that a senator may ask or make. We are currently working to prepare that briefing.”

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The Trump family sued the IRS in January over leaks of tax returns from the president’s first term, raising questions about whether Trump can legally challenge an entity he controls. The DOJ, representing the IRS, never challenged the case, even though it was filed outside the statute of limitations, and held the IRS liable for the contractor’s actions.

Federal law prohibits the president and his deputies (except the attorney general) from directing the IRS to drop audits. Although DOJ and IRS officials signed the part of the agreement that created the $1.8 billion fund, Blanche one person The person who signs the provisions regarding the audit.

“Anytime the IRS reaches a settlement with an individual taxpayer or another company, it’s standard as part of the settlement, it’s normal to get rid of audits that have gone on in the past,” Blanche told a House committee. earlier this month. “This is nothing that would give the president, his family or his organizations any immunity in the future.”

The White House defended Blanche when asked to comment on senators’ concerns about the deal. White House press secretary Abigail Jackson said Blanche “did an excellent job,” adding: “President Trump has a great relationship with Todd and is very pleased with the work she’s done so far.”

A federal judge has since reopened the IRS case, citing concerns that the president may have misled the court about the settlement process. Thirty-five former federal judges had warned him It raised “profound questions about the parties’ candor towards the court and the manipulation of the judicial system.”

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Semafor that he doesn’t expect Cornyn to block Blanche’s confirmation, but he doesn’t mind reviewing the Texan’s immunity agreement.

“By virtue of their duty to oversee the executive branch of government, any member of Congress has the right to have this information,” Grassley said.

Dispute Room

Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said he sees no need for congressional oversight of the IRS settlement.

“He has come under a lot of attack from previous administrations,” Budd said of Trump. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

Important

• Cornyn first criticized immunity deal inside an interview With the New York Times.