IRS Worked Overtime to Probe Twitter Files Journalist Matt Taibbi on Christmas Eve
AllSides Summary
The House Judiciary Committee led by Jim Jordan (R-OH) said Wednesday it received new information on an IRS probe into journalist Matt Taibbi.
The Details: The IRS opened a probe into Taibbi on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, the same day he published a story on ties between Twitter and U.S. intelligence agencies. The probe sought Taibbi’s voter and concealed carry statuses.
Home Visit: An IRS agent visited Taibbi’s home on March 9, which Taibbi initially thought was a “coincidence," but now thinks was politically motivated. The IRS told Taibbi his 2018 digital tax return was rejected due to identity theft concerns, which he had “never heard” before, and after this week’s developments says was a “fictional issue.” According to Jordan, the case was closed on March 23, and the IRS determined it owed Taibbi money.
For Context: Taibbi testified before Congress about his reporting on March 10. Ranking Member Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI) later requested Taibbi “correct the hearing record” to eliminate the possibility of facing prison time.
How The Media Covered It: The story was not widely covered. Several right-rated sources covered the story. Outkick the Coverage (Center) was the only center-rated source AllSides found to cover the story in print. Rising, a TV program by The Hill (Center) that is hosted by Robby Soave of Reason (Lean Right) and Briahna Joy Gray of Current Affairs (Left) interviewed Taibbi Thursday. AllSides did not find any left-rated sources that covered the story.
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