In wake of brazen act of corruption, Issue One urges senators to reject nomination of Billy Long to lead the IRS

Ahead of tomorrow’s confirmation hearing for former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) to serve as the next commissioner of the IRS, Issue One released the following statement:

“It should be deeply concerning to Democrats and Republicans alike that executives at companies accused of selling fraudulent tax credits have literally lined the pockets of the man nominated to lead the IRS,” said Issue One Senior Research Director Michael Beckel, who was the first to highlight concerning political contributions that enabled Long to pay himself back $130,000 in outstanding loans to his failed 2022 Senate bid after he was nominated to lead the IRS by President Donald Trump. “This concerning conduct should disqualify Long from leading the IRS.”

Added former Rep. Claudine Schneider (R-RI), a member of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus: “Senators on both sides of the aisle should be sounding the alarm about this brazen act of corruption. The American people deserve an IRS commissioner who has not accepted bribes.”

Schneider continued: “When the man nominated to lead the IRS accepts tens of thousands of dollars from donors who appear to be trying to curry favor with him, that erodes the American people’s faith in government and confidence in an agency that is already the frequent target of derision and scorn. The American people need to know that public officials are serving the interests of the country, not using positions of power for their own personal gain.”

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 still-active 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.

Much of this money came from business executives at companies that have been accused of selling fraudulent tax credits. Without these contributions, Long may have had to eat the cost of these loans to his unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign.

In the wake of this startling news, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) has called for Long’s nomination to be withdrawn, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have raised concerns that these contributions may violate federal anti-bribery laws.