Issue One raises alarm over legalized bribes given to Trump’s IRS nominee

In the wake of new campaign finance disclosures showing political donors helped former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, pay off a six-figure loan, Issue One released the following statement:

“These political contributions are essentially legalized bribes,” said Issue One Senior Research Director Michael Beckel, who first highlighted these new campaign finance filings on social media on Tuesday night. “Thanks to a massive loophole, special interests with business before the IRS have literally lined the pockets of the man nominated to lead the IRS. As the Senate considers Long’s nomination, senators would be wise to ask whether these donors will receive preferential treatment by the agency.”

Background:

On Dec. 4, 2024, Trump nominated Long to lead the IRS. At the time, Long’s campaign committee from his failed 2022 Senate bid had $130,000 in debt — money that Long had loaned his unsuccessful campaign.

In the days that followed, Long’s campaign committee raised $28,000 and his leadership PAC raised $45,000. Then, in early January, his Senate campaign committee raised another $137,000 — enabling Long to eliminate his debt by paying himself back.

Without these contributions, Long may have had to eat the cost of these loans to his failed 2022 Senate campaign.

Many of these donors work for firms in the tax consultancy industry or are involved in major tax-related legal battles. Among them are several executives at Lifetime Advisors, a firm that paid Long for work touting controversial tax credits after he left Congress in 2023 and has faced calls for criminal investigations, including by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) earlier this week.

With his loans to himself paid back, Long has now terminated his old Senate campaign committee. His leadership PAC still has about $50,000 in its coffers.