IRS audits of former FBI officials James Comey, Andrew McCabe prompt watchdog review

A Treasury Department watchdog was asked to examine decisions by the Internal Revenue Service to subject former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to rigorous financial audits.

"The IRS has referred the matter to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for review," the agency said in a brief statement Thursday after a report in The New York Times outlining how the two ardent critics of former President Donald Trump raised questions about how they were selected for the National Research Program audits.

Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017, was notified in 2019 that his 2017 tax return was being reviewed. Two years later, McCabe, who was dismissed by Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions, was selected for a similar review involving his 2019 return.

The Times reported that the odds of a person's selection for such an audit are about 1 out of 30,600.

The IRS defended its work, rejecting the notion that the actions were related to any Trump-related animus.

"Audits are handled by career civil servants, and the IRS has strong safeguards in place to protect the exam process – and against politically motivated audits," the agency said. "It’s ludicrous and untrue to suggest that senior IRS officials somehow targeted specific individuals for National Research Program audits."

IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, a Trump nominee, called for the inspector general review after receiving a media inquiry, the agency said.

Comey was fired by Trump four months into his presidency amid an investigation into Russia's ties to the president's 2016 campaign.

McCabe, who served as acting FBI director after Comey's dismissal, drew Trump's criticism related to the former FBI official's wife who ran unsuccessfully for a Virginia state Senate seat with the financial assistance of Clinton ally and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe.

Trump was unrelenting in his criticism of both men, calling on his own Justice Department to pursue criminal prosecutions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watchdog to probe IRS audits of ex-FBI officials Comey, McCabe