‘Twitter Files’ journalist received IRS agent visit at home the same day he testified in Congress
Gabe Kaminsky
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The IRS made an unexpected visit to the home of Matt Taibbi on the same day that he testified before Congress, the “Twitter Files” journalist has disclosed to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Along with fellow Twitter Files author Michael Shellenberger, Taibbi testified on March 9 before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, citing internal Twitter communications he obtained showing the social media giant’s coordination with the government on content moderation. That same day, the IRS visited Taibbi’s residence in New Jersey and left a note instructing him to call the agency, Jordan revealed on Monday in a letter to the IRS that was reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
WATCH LIVE: HEARING ON THE ‘WEAPONIZATION’ OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: THE ‘TWITTER FILES’
“The Committee recently learned that during this hearing, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent visited, unannounced and unprompted, the home of one of the hearing witnesses, Matthew Taibbi, an independent journalist who has reported extensively on government abuse,” Jordan wrote to Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel.
“In light of the hostile reaction to Mr. Taibbi’s reporting among left-wing activists, and the IRS’s history as a tool of government abuse, the IRS’s action could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate a witness before Congress,” the letter continued. “We expect your full cooperation with our inquiry.”
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Taibbi’s March 9 testimony before the Judiciary Committee sparked fiery debate among Republicans and Democrats on the First Amendment and the proper role of Twitter in moderating content. Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) and Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) notably tried to get Taibbi to divulge his sources in connection to the Twitter Files, sets of records that Twitter CEO Elon Musk has provided Taibbi and others in relation to the platform’s operations under former CEO Jack Dorsey.
The IRS agent’s note left at Taibbi’s residence told him to call the agency four days later, according to Jordan. The journalist was informed that his 2021 and 2018 tax returns were rejected because of purported identity theft concerns.
Taibbi has now provided the Judiciary Committee with a copy of his 2018 tax filing, which shows that it was accepted. The IRS never notified him of any issues with the filing four-and-a-half years prior, according to Taibbi. The 2021 tax filing was rejected due to a “monetary” problem, and the journalist alleged that the IRS owes him a “considerable” amount of money.
The visit comes after it was revealed on March 7 that the Federal Trade Commission has launched a sweeping investigation into Twitter under Musk. The regulator is seeking internal communications showing the names of all journalists who Musk has provided records to as part of the Twitter Files, according to a weaponization subcommittee report.
The FTC’s inquiry relates to Twitter’s privacy and data practices, according to the New York Times. Under Chairwoman Lina Khan, the FTC has been criticized by Republicans for purportedly overreaching into the private sector.
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In his Monday letter, Jordan asked the IRS for all records related to its visit to Taibbi’s home. The Republican also wants communications between the IRS, Treasury Department, and any executive branch relating to Taibbi.
The IRS did not return a request for comment.