Top IRS lawyer to resign post amid disagreements with Trump administration

Ken Kies, the top lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), is reportedly preparing to resign from his post, signaling further turmoil within the Trump administration. Rumors suggest that clashes with President Donald Trump's White House over a controversial settlement deal and disputes concerning tax audits may have led to his decision to step down.

News outlets, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation, reported on Friday that Kies was "forced out" of his role. Kies had reportedly cautioned members of the Trump administration against issuing directives to the IRS regarding tax audits. The Internal Revenue Code explicitly prohibits the president, vice president, and other executive employees from requesting the IRS to "conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer."

The law is in place to prevent the president and their allies from using tax audits as a political weapon against perceived opponents. This principle has historical precedent, notably during former President Richard Nixon's administration, where attempts to use the IRS against political rivals became part of the evidence in his impeachment proceedings.

Trump himself has faced scrutiny over accusations of attempting to leverage the IRS for personal gain. These include threats to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status and a personal lawsuit filed against the IRS over allegations of a data leak. Critics have described the lawsuit as an unprecedented instance of a sitting president suing his own government, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and potential abuses of power.

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conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer