Raskin, Neal Demand Answers on Trump’s Corrupt, Self-Dealing IRS Settlement and Taxpayer Shakedown
Washington, D.C. (May 20, 2026)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter demanding Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano provide answers surrounding what they describe as “one of the most brazen acts of public corruption and self-dealing in American history,” following reports of President Trump’s settlement agreement with the IRS. The letter also instructs the Secretary, Acting Attorney General, and IRS CEO to preserve relevant records. The Ranking Members highlighted how Trump’s new taxpayer shakedown is structured to operate in secrecy while remaining effectively controlled by the President, creating enormous opportunities to enrich himself, his family empire, and his cronies. “Never in American history has a President pursued corruption this brazenly or on such a colossal scale,” wrote Raskin and Neal. “Essentially, the federal government threw in a Super-Pardon for the President, his family, and related and affiliated entities, freeing them not only from any accountability for any taxes they may have dodged, but other pending federal criminal or civil investigations like insider trading, antitrust violations, false statements, or even sexual harassment.” Raskin and Neal further condemned the arrangement as, “a transparent attempt to circumvent the separation of powers and use the Judgment Fund for a scam Congress never contemplated: rewarding the President’s political allies at the expense of American taxpayers.” The lawmakers demanded responses by Wednesday, May 27, 2026, ahead of Treasury Secretary Bessent’s reported appearance before the Ways and Means Committee in early June. Raskin and Neal requested documents and answers regarding the settlement negotiations, the role of DOJ and Treasury officials, the structure of the fund, potential tax treatment of payments, and safeguards against fraud and abuse. Today’s letter follows Raskin and Neal joining Litigation Task Force Co-Chair Assistant Leader Joe Neguse in leading House Democrats in filing an amicus brief filed in Trump v. IRS. |