Democrats push for investigation into fired IRS lawyer who reportedly clashed with White House over audits

Senate Democrats are pushing for an investigation into an ousted Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lawyer who was reportedly fired after clashes with the White House.

The group of Democrats sent a letter to the Treasury Department questioning if Kenneth Kies, the agency’s acting chief counsel, lost his job for refusing to follow instructions by White House officials to steer an IRS audit.

Doing so would violate Section 7217 of the IRS code, the Democrats said, which deems it unlawful for anyone to force the agency into opening, terminating, or directing an investigation into any taxpayer. The IRS code also directs Kies to report any illegal influence by White House officials if it did occur.

The letter was sent following a report from The Wall Street Journal that alleged Kies was let go for standing in the way of White House officials. The IRS website now lists the chief counsel position which Kies occupied as vacant.

Kies........

© The Hill