Senate Democrats request investigation into potential political influence over tax audits by the administration following the removal of Kenneth Kies.

Senate Democrats are seeking an investigation into whether the administration is violating federal laws by allowing political influence over tax audits. The request, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, follows the removal of Kenneth Kies from his roles as assistant Treasury secretary and acting chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service. Kenneth Kies was reportedly forced out after warning White House officials that their requests risked breaching Section 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code. This law prohibits senior officials from directly or indirectly requesting that the IRS conduct or terminate specific audits. The senators noted that the provision was enacted in the 1990s to prevent officials from favoring allies or targeting political enemies. The investigation aims to determine who initiated the requests, whether Kies' departure was voluntary, and what justification the administration provided for his removal. The senators emphasized that officials who fail to report such requests face penalties of up to a $5,000 fine and five years in prison.

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