Election conspiracy theorist and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has recently garnered significant media attention. Not long ago, he expressed interest in possibly launching a campaign for the Republican gubernatorial position in Minnesota. Subsequently, a correspondent from Lindell’s media operation made headlines for asking a sycophantic question at a White House press briefing about President Donald Trump, leading to widespread ridicule. Currently, Lindell is in the news again as he informed a judge about his financial struggles, stating his finances are in “ruins” and that “nobody will lend me any money anymore.”
Despite these challenges, reports indicate that Lindell continues to have influential allies. According to The Washington Post, a Trump administration official in March requested the IRS to review audits concerning two of President Trump’s “high profile” friends, including Lindell. This information was provided by individuals familiar with the request and records obtained by the newspaper.
David Eisner, a Trump appointee at the Treasury Department, reportedly contacted senior IRS officials about an audit Lindell was undergoing. Shortly thereafter, Eisner reached out again regarding Rick Kloos, a Republican state senator in Kansas. Eisner allegedly described both Lindell and Kloos as “high profile friends of the president” and noted their concerns about potentially being inappropriately targeted.
The IRS did not act on Eisner’s inquiries, according to a related report in The New York Times, which noted that the outreach alarmed agency staff. Concerns arose that President Trump might be attempting to use the IRS to shield his associates from routine scrutiny, fears that intensified as the administration made changes to agency leadership.
The integrity and independence of the IRS are essential, as the agency must not become a political instrument. It is crucial that the IRS avoid offering preferential treatment to the president’s allies or those politically aligned with the administration. Former national taxpayer advocate Nina Olson emphasized the inappropriateness of such actions, stating that during her 18-year tenure, she never encountered a Treasury official intervening in this manner.
A spokesperson for the Treasury Department refrained from denying the claims, asserting that Eisner “acted appropriately” by sharing “relevant information” with the IRS. Eisner did not respond to requests for comment, and the IRS declined to comment on the matter.
Kloos’ attorney stated that the Kansas legislator is not a close associate of the president and was unaware of Eisner’s contact with the IRS on his behalf. Kloos has been involved in a prolonged legal dispute concerning his organization’s tax-exempt status.
Regarding Lindell, he suggested a miscommunication may have occurred, explaining that the Treasury Department misunderstood his request, which he claimed was related to an issue with the Employee Retention Credit.
This situation appears to be far from over, suggesting more developments are likely to follow.