Brady, Crapo Demand Update on Criminal Breach of Taxpayer Data

Nearly 10 months later, the Biden Administration still does not know what taxpayer data was stolen and leaked to ProPublica last summer. It’s hard to investigate a crime when you don’t know what was stolen. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, top Republicans on the House and Senate tax panels are requesting an update on the investigation.  

The letter, sent by Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and I noted how investigators still have not sought a copy of the stolen information, writing:

Anyone accessing or releasing confidential personal tax information from the IRS without necessary approvals faces severe penalties and must be prosecuted. In June 8, 2021, testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, IRS Commissioner Rettig pledged to ‘absolutely’ ensure that anyone found to have revealed such information would face prosecution, ‘absolutely.’ 

It is unclear why the Department of Treasury, the IRS, and the Department of Justice do not ask ProPublica for a copy of whatever data ProPublica is using to produce political articles in order to determine whether ProPublica’s claim of possessing legally protected data is true.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Investigators still have not requested a copy of the stolen information: As of September 13, both the Treasury and the IRS say that they don’t “know whether there has been a data breach or a threat of a data breach” and that they do not “have any information concerning the sources of the alleged taxpayer information published by ProPublica.” 
• The American people deserve answers: Nearly 10 months later, the Biden Administration is no closer to holding those responsible for leaking confidential, personal tax information accountable. 
• Taxpayer privacy is paramount: Democrats have prioritized a supercharged IRS and surveillance scheme over getting to the bottom of this criminal breach of taxpayer information.

BACKGROUND:

• After a briefing on June 14, 2021 from Commissioner Rettig, Rep. Brady renewed his call for an "...aggressive investigation of this astonishing breach of trust to protect Americans' personal finances from prying, political eyes." 
• On June 8, 2021, ProPublica detailed income tax information to advance Democrats’ efforts to supercharge the IRS and turn your local bank into a tax auditor.
• On June 9, 2021, Rep. Brady and Sen. Crapo wrote to Commissioner Rettig demanding answers on the breach.