By Steve Neavling
Then-President Donald Trump asked the IRS to investigate FBI officials who were involved in the investigation into allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia, his former chief of staff John Kelly said in a sworn statement, The New York Times reports.
The FBI agents were Peter Strozk, who was the lead agent in the bureau’s Russia investigation, and Lisa Page, a former FBI lawyer, according to Kelly’s sworn statement made public in a court filing.
“President Trump questioned whether investigations by the Internal Revenue Service or other federal agencies should be undertaken into Mr. Strzok and/or Ms. Page,” Mr. Kelly said in the statement. “I do not know of President Trump ordering such an investigation. It appeared, however, that he wanted to see Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page investigated.”
The statement was filed in connection with lawsuits filed by Strozk and Page, who allege the Justice Department violated their privacy rights when the Trump administration publicized text messages between them.
Following Richard Nixon’s presidency, Congress passed a law prohibiting a president from “directly or indirectly” ordering an FBI investigation or audit.
Former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired, and Comey’s deputy, Andrew McCabe, were also subjected to a “highly unusual and invasive” IRS audit, The New York Times reported in July 2022.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Strozk and Page were investigated by the IRS.
