An IRS whistleblower who filed a complaint in July about “inappropriate efforts to influence” President Donald Trump’s tax audit has reportedly turned down an invitation to have a transcribed interview with the Senate Finance Committee.
According to CNN’s report on Tuesday, the whistleblower declined to voluntarily testify because they were told doing so could potentially violate the IRS code that bars staffers from revealing information on taxpayers, which could lead to jail time.
Committee chair Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) met with the whistleblower in November to discuss the complaint, which alleges that a Treasury Department staffer tried to interfere with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence’s annual tax audits for political reasons.
The whistleblower also flagged their report to the House Ways and Means Committee, which is currently wrestling the Trump administration for access to the President’s concealed tax returns.
When asked for confirmation of CNN’s report, a spokesperson for Grassley told TPM the committee “does not publicly discuss” whistleblower meetings that “have or have not happened.”
