Wyden Statement on IRS Memo on Compliance With Requests for Tax Returns

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in response to reporting that career IRS attorneys drafted a memo that concluded the Treasury Secretary does not have discretion on compliance with congressional requests for tax returns under section 6103 of the tax code:  

“Career IRS attorneys made clear that the Treasury Secretary has no discretion to determine whether or not to comply with congressional requests for tax returns. This legal analysis contradicts President Trump’s wishes and it was buried. It’s hard to believe that Secretary Mnuchin, Commissioner Rettig and other political appointees did not know about the existence of this memo. Commissioner Rettig was asked in April about any conversations with agency experts and he responded that he had not asked for advice, not that he had not received advice. Congress needs answers as to who knew about this memo and when, and why Secretary Mnuchin ultimately did an end run around the IRS to get the answer President Trump wanted.”

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