Matt Taibbi’s go to by IRS after testimony about ‘Twitter Information’ raises eyebrows: ‘Stinks to excessive heaven’

The Wall Avenue Journal editorial board and others sounded off on Matt Taibbi, one of many journalists behind the “Twitter Information,” being visited by an IRS agent after his testimony earlier than Congress, with one Republican saying it stunk to “excessive heaven.”

The Wall Avenue Journal’s Editorial Board reported that Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio., despatched a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel on Monday to ask why an agent was despatched to Taibbi’s dwelling.

In line with the letter, the agent got here to Taibbi’s private residence on March 9, the identical day the journalist testified earlier than the Choose Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Authorities on his reporting of the Twitter Information. The taxman left a notice instructing him to name the IRS 4 days later. Taibbi was allegedly instructed that each his 2018 and 2021 tax returns have been rejected because of “considerations over identification theft.”

“The curious timing of this go to, on the heels of the FTC demand that Twitter flip over names of journalists, raises questions on potential intimidation, and Mr. Jordan is correct to wish to see paperwork and communications referring to the Taibbi go to,” the WSJ wrote. “The worry of many People is that, flush with its new $80 billion in funding from Congress, the IRS will unleash its fearsome energy towards political opponents. Mr. Taibbi deserves to know why the company determined to pursue him with a really unusual home name.”

Taibbi drew the ire of some Democratic politicians throughout his testimony, and he has been attacked by liberal journalists for his work. Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., notably blasted him as a “so-called journalist.”

MATT TAIBBI ISSUES WARNING OF GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO CLEANSE MEDIA OF ‘DISINFORMATION’: ‘EXTREMELY DANGEROUS’ 

“Rating Member Plaskett, I am not a so-called journalist,” Taibbi responded. “I’ve received the Nationwide Journal Award, the I.F. Stone Award for Unbiased Journalism, and I’ve written 10 books, together with 4 New York Instances bestsellers.”

In response to the IRS go to, the WSJ reported that Taibbi supplied Jordan’s committee with documentation proving that his 2018 tax returns had been beforehand accepted, stating that the IRS by no means notified him of any points on the time. As well as, whereas his 2021 tax return was initially rejected, Taibbi stated the problem was not “financial.”

The WSJ famous that the IRS usually sends a letter or schedules a gathering on the agent’s workplace somewhat than make unannounced visits to taxpayers’ houses.

“What a tremendous coincidence,” tweeted fellow Twitter Information journalist Michael Shellenberger, who additionally testified that very same day. Musk chimed in it was “very odd.”

“This positively stinks to excessive heaven. The IRS has a troubling historical past of concentrating on the political enemies of Democrats,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tweeted.

One other stated it was “ironic and extremely suspicious.”

MATT TAIBBI TORCHES DEMOCRATS FOR ‘COMICALLY INEPT’ ATTACKS DURING TWITTER FILES HEARING 

Taibbi grew extra outstanding in December after posting the primary in a protracted line of “Twitter Information” that uncovered efforts by the social media web site to suppress sure tales and journalists, in addition to behind-the-scenes revelations about why it banned former President Trump and cracked down on COVID-19 opinions it deemed misinformation.

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Fox Information’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.

This text was initially printed by foxnews.com. Learn the original article here.