{"id":15215,"date":"2026-07-24T01:38:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T20:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15215"},"modified":"2026-07-24T01:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T20:38:03","slug":"democrats-urge-irs-watchdog-to-find-out-why-a-top-attorney-who-clashed-with-trump-admin-left-his-high-ranking-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15215","title":{"rendered":"Democrats urge IRS watchdog to find out why a top attorney who clashed with Trump admin left his high-ranking job"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Senate Democrats want a watchdog at\u00a0the Internal Revenue Service\u00a0to investigate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/kellyphillipserb\/2026\/07\/15\/top-treasury-tax-officials-departure-deepens-leadership-crisis-at-irs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the recent departure of a high-ranking IRS attorney<\/a> who clashed with President Donald Trump\u2019s White House after the attorney raised concerns about influence over taxpayer audits.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth Kies, an assistant Treasury Department secretary and acting chief counsel of the IRS, left both roles earlier this month. <\/p>\n<p>The Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/top-treasury-tax-official-ousted-after-clashes-with-white-house-over-irs-audits-60d5b1df\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported that<\/a> Kies had warned that political officials risked breaching a law that bars the executive branch from interfering in tax enforcement by starting or stopping audits or investigations.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40071747\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40071747\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"The sign for the Internal Revenue Service headquarters.\" class=\"wp-image-40071747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 3267w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=1024,683&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=1536,1024&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1536w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=180,120&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=171,114&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=160,107&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/headquarters-internal-revenue-service-washington-135287283.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Senate Democrats want an IRS watchdog to probe why top lawyer Kenneth Kies left after warning of Trump White House interference in taxpayer audits. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Ted Shaffrey<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kies is a longtime Washington tax lobbyist who was confirmed to lead the Office of Tax Policy in June 2025. He also served as acting chief counsel to the IRS.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.finance.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/072226_sfc_d_letter_to_tigta_on_irs_audit_and_ken_kies.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More than a dozen Democratic senators<\/a>\u00a0said Kies was forced out of Trump\u2019s Republican administration after \u201craising concerns about those potential violations\u201d in a letter addressed to Heather M. Hill, the Treasury Department\u2019s acting inspector general for tax administration.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIf recent reporting is accurate and Mr. Kies did in fact advise White House officials of such risks, it is gravely concerning that this administration chose not only to ignore the IRS\u2019 top legal adviser, but to fire him for attempting to follow the law and protect taxpayers,\u201d the lawmakers said.<\/p>\n<p>The White House, which confirmed Kies\u2019 departure, sent The Associated Press an email statement that Kies was not a team player and was difficult to work with. <\/p>\n<p>Neither Kies nor the IRS responded to AP requests for comment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40071748\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40071748\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade nominee, at a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing.\" class=\"wp-image-40071748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 4000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=1024,683&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=1536,1024&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=2048,1366&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 2048w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=260,174&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=246,164&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=234,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=195,130&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=180,120&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=171,114&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=160,107&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/william-kimmitt-secretary-commerce-international-135306149.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Kies left his role as assistant Treasury Department secretary and acting chief counsel of the IRS earlier this month. <span class=\"credit\">Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The rule barring executive influence over directing tax audits came out of the Watergate scandal, in which President Richard Nixon, a Republican, discussed using the IRS against political opponents and groups on his administration\u2019s \u201cenemies list.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Its unclear what taxpayer audits prompted Kies\u2019 concerns over White House influence. <\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, Kies previously recused himself from tax matters involving Trump due to his prior work as Trump\u2019s private lawyer.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, lawmakers have questioned a settlement agreement to resolve\u00a0Trump\u2019s $10 billion lawsuit\u00a0over\u00a0the 2018 leak of his tax returns\u00a0to The New York Times. <\/p>\n<p>The settlement, forged in May between Trump and his own government, includes a provision under which the IRS agrees to drop all pending probes of Trump over whether he\u2019s paid his fair share of taxes.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. is \u201cforever barred and precluded\u201d from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization\u2019s current tax filings, according to\u00a0a one-page addendum.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Democrats want a watchdog at\u00a0the Internal Revenue Service\u00a0to investigate the recent departure of a high-ranking IRS attorney who clashed with President Donald Trump\u2019s White House after the attorney raised concerns about influence over taxpayer audits. Kenneth Kies, an assistant Treasury Department secretary and acting chief counsel of the IRS, left both roles earlier this&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/135306349.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}