Pascrell Blisters IRS Chief on Refusal to Give Trump Tax Testimony

Surprise questioning comes days after Rettig rejected invitation by Pascrell to appear before Oversight Subcommittee

PATERSON, NJ – In a surprise appearance with the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations,  U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), today harshly questioned Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig on the IRS’s continued refusal to release details on Donald Trump’s tax returns and the IRS’s systematic failure to hold rich tax cheats to account. Pascrell appeared on the panel following an invitation from Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11).

“The recent revelations of Mr. Trump’s lifetime of tax abuse and malfeasance threaten public confidence in the IRS. I’m talking about the very legitimacy of our Federal tax system. I’m not sure you understand or appreciate that,” Pascrell told Rettig. “To begin to restore this trust you must fulfill the Ways and Means Committee’s legally binding request for Donald Trump’s business and personal tax returns. You have been illegally withholding them for the last 547 days. Will you fulfill Chairman Neal’s request?”

As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Pascrell has made oversight of the IRS one of the panel’s absolute top priorities.

Pascrell has invited Rettig to appear before the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee October 13 in an urgent hearing on taxpayer fairness and reports of the IRS admitting it deliberately targets poorer Americans for audits over the rich. Rettig has refused to reply or confirm his attendance.

A full clip of Rep. Pascrell’s questioning of Rettig is available here.

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