The independent journalist who reported on the collusion between former Twitter executives and government agencies in the Twitter files, received a visit from an IRS official on the very same day he testified about the weaponization of government before congress.
The explosive Twitter Files, the documents provided to journalists and overseen by CEO Elon Musk, exposed how the platform silenced conservatives through shadow bans and outright suspensions.
But on March 9, IRS agents turned up at Taibbi’s home, the same day he testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of government.
The IRS agent left Taibbi a note instructing him to call the agency four days later.
When Taibbi called the IRS, he was told his 2018 and 2021 tax returns were rejected over identity theft concerns.
Mysterious timing?
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel demanding information on why the IRS visited Taibbi’s home.
Taibbi provided the House Judiciary Committee with documents that proved his 2018 IRS return had been electronically accepted.
He added that his accountants have yet to inform him of any problems concerning his filings.
The return from 2021 was rejected and refiled before being rejected again.
Taibbi said the issue with the tax return was not “monetary.”
As everyone knows, dealing with the IRS can be difficult, especially as increased audit rates have emerged folowing the Inflation Reduction Act provided the agency with an $80 billion windfall to inflate the size of its workforce to go after unpaid taxes.
The IRS typically sends a letter or a request for information rather than turning up at someone’s home announced, The Wall Street Journal editorial board noted
Another independent journalist behind the Twitter Files, Michael Shellenberger, noted on social media that the sudden IRS visit was an “amazing coincidence.”
But Taibbi refused to comment on the matter pending an answer to the letter.
The various editions of the Twitter Files indicated federal agencies contacted Twitter about the censorship of so many posts.
“Federal intelligence and law enforcement reach into Twitter included the Department of Homeland Security, which partnered with security contractors and think tanks to pressure Twitter to moderate content,” Taibbi recounted in one report.
Outstanding, Democratic lawmakers accused Taibbi and Shellenberger of colluding with Musk to advance the entrepreneur’s interests, even demanding they provide information about their sources.
Rep. Stacey Plaskett requested the name of the “individual that gave you permission to access the emails.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Sylvia Garcia demanded the date on which Musk approached the journalists regarding the Twitter files initiative.
However, Jordan accused his colleagues of pressuring the reporters, calling the effort “a violation of the First Amendment.”
READ MORE: TWITTER FILES: Hillary Clinton behind FBI Witch Hunt for Non-Existent Russian Accounts
