Levin calls on IRS to audit the Trump Foundation

A top House Democrat on Wednesday demanded that the IRS audit the Donald J. Trump Foundation over questions surrounding compliance with federal tax laws.

Rep. Sander Levin, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen highlighting a media report that said Trump’s foundation may have violated self-dealing laws by using the foundation’s funds for personal use.

{mosads}An article in the Washington Post on Tuesday reported that the Republican presidential nominee used more than $250,000 from his charity to resolve lawsuits or legal disputes that involved his businesses.

“It is important that charitable funds be used for charitable purposes, rather than promote the business ventures of those affiliated with the charity,” Levin wrote to Koskinen.

“I therefore request an immediate audit of the Donald J. Trump Foundation.”

In a hearing on Wednesday, House Democrats shifted the focus from Koskinen’s impeachment to Trump’s tax situation.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) asked Koskinen if a tax audit would prohibit Trump from publicly releasing his tax returns. 

Koskinen’s answer: No. 

When asked about the the Trump foundation’s activities Koskinen said that tax-exempt organizations aren’t permitted to use their funds to benefit their own members.

House conservatives want to impeach Koskinen over his handling of email records among other issues after he took the helm of the troubled agency.

Some of those lawmakers, many members of the House Freedom Caucus, still are pushing for an impeachment vote on the House floor.