Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent avoided addressing questions about whether President Donald Trump and his family retain immunity from IRS audits during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday. Bessent cited ongoing litigation as the reason for his inability to comment on the matter, frustrating Democratic lawmakers seeking clarity on the issue.
“There’s continuing litigation, and I’m unable to comment on ongoing litigation,” Bessent told lawmakers.
The hearing, ostensibly focused on the Treasury Department’s budget, followed comments from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who indicated that the IRS audit immunity provision from a controversial settlement could still apply to Trump. The White House referred inquiries to Bessent’s remarks, while Trump himself remained non-committal on the status of the $1.776 billion compensation fund tied to the immunity deal.
Lawmakers Express Frustration
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) criticized Bessent’s refusal to answer, calling it “outrageous on behalf of the American public.” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, pressed Bessent on whether the IRS audit immunity granted to Trump, his family, and his businesses remained in effect. Bessent again declined to respond, citing the unresolved legal dispute.
The Trump administration scrapped the compensation fund, which could have benefited participants in the January 6 Capitol riot, following bipartisan backlash. However, the status of the IRS immunity deal remains unclear. Critics, including former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, have labeled the settlement “one of the greatest scams in American history.”
The issue arises as a federal judge in Florida reopened Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, questioning the transparency of the settlement and ordering Trump’s attorneys to respond to allegations that the claims were abandoned to avoid scrutiny.