1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

Audit Immunity at Trump's behest for him, his family, his businesses, and his associates puts the IRS in a bind. Federal law prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from halting an audit at the direction of the president or his aides. As part of an arrangement drawn up this week by Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, the Internal Revenue Service faces its most profound legal and ethical test in years. President Trump’s return to office has been an unforgiving test for the hidebound Internal Revenue Service. Trump and his aides have decimated its ranks, fired and replaced its leaders and made repeated attempts to enlist the agency in his quest for political retribution. Now, as part of an arrangement drawn up this week by Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, the IRS faces a demand to drop any audits of Mr. Trump, his family members or their “affiliates.” Tax lawyers and former IRS officials have said such expansive protections would cut to the core of the agency’s mission to collect taxes in a disinterested, nonpartisan way — and could potentially run afoul of the laws governing how it does so. “It’s just completely contrary to the notion that you’re supposed to comply with the law and the IRS is there to make sure you do that,” said George Yin, a tax law professor and former chief of staff at the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. “The idea that you can get a free pass from the I.R.S. or anyone can get a free pass from the I.R.S. is just completely ridiculous.” This is "settlement" is unacceptable, unethical, and illegal. Congress must step in and challenge this!