Garland vows to push probe of leak of wealthy Americans’ IRS data
“This is an extremely serious matter,” Merrick Garland told members of a Senate appropriations subcommittee when he was asked about the breach of IRS data.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Wednesday the investigation of who leaked reams of tax information about wealthy Americans to a news organization will be a priority for him, calling the situation “astonishing.”
“This is an extremely serious matter,” Garland told members of a Senate appropriations subcommittee when he was asked about the breach of IRS data.
“This was on my list of things to raise after I finished preparing for this hearing, and I promise you will be at the top of my list,” Garland told Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
ProPublica reported on Tuesday that it had obtained tax information covering more than 15 years that shows the richest Americans — including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, media titan Michael Bloomberg and investor Carl Icahn — paid little or no federal income taxes.
The nonprofit news organization said it didn’t know the source of the information and didn’t solicit it.
The report stirred up anger in Washington over how some of the world’s richest people are able to avoid taxes, especially among Democrats, and also prompted bipartisan concern about the security of tax information held by the IRS.
A Treasury spokesperson said on Tuesday the breach was referred to the FBI and other relevant federal agencies for investigation.