“Twitter Files” journalist Matt Taibbi was not only the center of an IRS investigation, but the federal agency was working overtime to dig into the journalist’s tax records from years back. Taibbi says the IRS probe against him started on Christmas Eve 2022, which is rare for agents to do given its proximity to the federal holiday and that the day fell on a Saturday.
Taibbi’s statement is prompting further speculation that the investigation in its entirety was politically motivated.
This story is not being covered by CNN, NBC, CBS, MSNBC and others in the media landscape. According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss tool, there is a total absence of left-leaning outlets covering the federal investigation. In fact, the story is getting very little coverage, but the news organizations willing to cover the story are all right-leaning.
The IRS investigation timeline
On Dec. 24, 2022, the IRS opened its examination of Taibbi’s 2018 tax return. That happened to be the same day a batch of Twitter Files were dropped that focused on the close relationship and coordination between Twitter and federal agencies.
That day also happened to fall on a Saturday. The IRS opened its case not only the day before a holiday but also a weekend, the days agents wouldn’t typically be working.
In March 2022, Taibbi was set to testify before the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. On the same day that Taibbi testified alleging ties between the FBI and Big Tech, IRS agents showed up at his front door to investigate.
The IRS ultimately determined the federal government owed him money after reviewing the 2018 tax records.
Just like it is atypical for the IRS to begin an investigation over a holiday weekend, it’s also not typical for agents to make house visits to people at the center of tax audits.
The investigation is now being investigated by the House Judiciary Committee. The committee is looking for any politically-driven motives in the probe.
The recent and controversial $80 billion in funding from Congress to the IRS in the Inflation Reduction Act has Americans closely watching what comes next.
