Senate Finance Committee Rejects Audit Immunity Block for Trump

The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 on Thursday to reject a Democratic-led amendment that would have blocked the Internal Revenue Service from entering tax audit immunity deals with a sitting president, their family, or connected entities. The amendment, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden, sought to nullify a settlement protecting Donald Trump and his family from future audits and a proposed $1.8 billion fund for victims of political weaponization.

Republicans voted against the measure in a party-line bloc, including some who have criticized the deal. Committee Chairman Mike Crapo argued that the tax procedure bill was not the appropriate venue for the issue and that the amendment would have turned the legislation into a partisan vehicle. While Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis expressed theoretical opposition to the immunity deal, they indicated they are seeking behind-the-scenes adjustments to narrow the protections.

Following the rejection of the amendment, the broader tax-administration bill overhauling IRS operations passed 26-1. Senator Elizabeth Warren cast the lone dissenting vote, characterizing the audit immunity arrangement as corruption on steroids and arguing that no other taxpayer had ever received such a deal.