(Washington) The US tax administration announced Thursday that it has requested the opening of an independent investigation into the very rare audit to which two sworn enemies of Donald Trump were subjected.
Posted at 7:25 p.m.
James Comey, the director of the FBI until his dismissal by Trump in 2017, and Andrew McCabe, James Comey’s deputy and temporary replacement, were both subjected to a very thorough audit on their tax returns when the billionaire Republican was still in the White House.
PHOTO ALEX BRANDON, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Andrew McCabe, former assistant to James Comey
Only a few thousand Americans have to pass this audit each year and are supposed to be chosen completely at random. How these two men, both enemies of the former president because of their role in the Russian investigation, were both able to be selected, has raised questions.
“Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe someone cheated the taxman to go after a political enemy. Given the role Trump wants to continue to play in our country, we need to know the answer to that question,” Comey told the New York Timesthe first media to reveal this audit.
The US tax authorities confirmed in a press release that its chief had requested the launch of an audit to shed light on this affair.
Donald Trump abruptly dismissed James Comey in 2017 while he investigated foreign interference in the 2016 election suspected of having contributed to the surprise victory of the ex-businessman.