Team Trump reportedly contacted the IRS about a ‘high-profile friend of the president’

Mike Lindell, known for promoting election conspiracy theories, has been making headlines recently. A few weeks ago, the MyPillow founder expressed interest in running for governor as a Republican in Minnesota. Subsequently, someone linked to Lindell’s media operation asked a fawning question about Donald Trump at a White House press briefing, leading to widespread ridicule. Lindell also faced financial troubles and had difficulty paying court-imposed sanctions, claiming his finances were in disarray and he couldn’t secure loans.

Despite these challenges, Lindell appears to have influential connections. According to The Washington Post, a Trump administration official requested the IRS to review audits of two individuals close to the former president, including Lindell. The official, David Eisner, reportedly raised concerns about potential inappropriate targeting of Lindell and a Republican state senator from Kansas named Rick Kloos. However, the IRS did not act on Eisner’s requests, raising worries about the agency’s independence and potential politicization under the Trump administration.

Nina Olson, a former national taxpayer advocate, criticized the alleged interference, calling it highly inappropriate. The Treasury Department did not refute the claims, stating that Eisner acted appropriately by sharing relevant information with the IRS. Kloos’ attorney denied any close relationship between his client and the president, highlighting a prolonged tax-exempt status dispute.

Lindell defended himself, attributing the Treasury Department’s actions to a misunderstanding related to an Employee Retention Credit issue. The situation involving Lindell, Kloos, and the IRS is likely to continue unfolding.