Trump Cabinet Member Says Biden IRS Targeted His Family With Rushed “Audit”

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the outgoing Biden administration targeted his family with a “rushed” tax audit.

Hegseth posted a screenshot of an alleged document claiming his family owed the IRS more than $33,000 in taxes.

“Of course the outgoing Biden IRS rushed an ‘audit’ of the incoming SecDef. Total sham,” Hegseth said.

“The party of ‘norms’ and ‘decency’ strikes again. We will never back down,” he added.

Of course the outgoing Biden IRS rushed an “audit” of the incoming SecDef. Total sham.

The party of “norms” and “decency” strikes again. We will never back down. pic.twitter.com/coW1UpFPrD

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 17, 2025

A closer look:

* Image from Pete Hegseth X Post *

The Hill reports:

The IRS has not publicly commented on the audit, and Hegseth has not denied its accuracy. It’s not clear whether the IRS initiated the audit due to concerns regarding the couple’s tax filings or if it was part of a routine review.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

Tax returns and the financial dealings of potential Cabinet members are often scrutinized during the confirmation process and have derailed nominees in the past.

Then-Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), President Trump’s choice for White House budget director in 2017, was discovered to have failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee. He ultimately made it through the confirmation process. (Mulvaney is now a contributor to NewsNation, owned by Nexstar, which also owns The Hill.)

And in 2009, former President Obama’s choice to lead the Health and Human Services Department, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), had to withdraw his nomination after it was found that he had paid roughly $140,000 in back taxes related to some consulting income and a car and driver provided to him by a former employer.

During his nomination hearing, Hegseth was grilled by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) over his tax returns while working for two veterans support nonprofits.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Biden’s IRS targeted him for an audit https://t.co/6lYzqFrjn8 pic.twitter.com/IsJU4Huw1G

— New York Post (@nypost) February 17, 2025

From the New York Post:

Hegseth — one of Trump’s more controversial cabinet picks — was confirmed as secretary of defense in January.

Opponents argued that his prior experience – which included serving as a Fox News contributor but no government work – left him ill-equipped to run the nation’s military.

He also was facing allegations of sexual misconduct, claims of alcohol problems, accusations that several of his tattoos were coded white supremacy messages and alleged financial mismanagement of the veterans groups he oversaw.

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But supporters cited his years of service in both the Army and as a veterans’ advocate in arguing for his confirmation.

They characterized the allegations against him as an organized effort by establishment Democrats to derail his appointment.

Hegseth was eventually confirmed with a 51-50 vote in the Senate.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.