Ahead of Hearing, Warren Presses IRS Chief Counsel Nominee on Conflicts of Interests, 50+ Year Career Rotating Through Revolving Door
Donald Korb spent his career transitioning between the IRS and law firms, where he defended some of the biggest corporations being investigated by the IRS
Warren on proposed ethics commitments for Korb: “By making these commitments, you would increase Americans’ trust in your ability to serve the public interest—rather than the special interests of mega-corporations seeking tax breaks.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Donald Korb, nominee for Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ahead of Korb’s confirmation hearing, pressing him on his stark conflicts of interest and urging him to make ethics commitments to mitigate these conflicts.
“I have been raising the alarm for years about this insidious revolving door at the Department of the Treasury and the IRS, which threatens the important work of the agencies,” wrote Senator Warren. “I am concerned that, if confirmed, you would enter this role with significant conflicts of interest that could cloud your judgment or raise questions about the integrity of IRS decisions in which you are involved.”
Throughout Mr. Korb’s career, he has transitioned between roles at the IRS—including serving as Chief Counsel under President George W. Bush—and positions as a lawyer and lobbyist for large, tax-dodging corporations. Mr. Korb began his career at the IRS, where he worked from 1973 to 1986. Mr. Korb later became a lobbyist, until he was nominated to be IRS Chief Counsel in 2003 by President Bush. After leaving office, he joined the firm Sullivan & Cromwell, where he headed the tax controversy department, defending some of the country’s wealthiest corporations being investigated by the IRS, as well as continuing to lobby for wealthy firms.
“As IRS Chief Counsel under President Trump, you would be responsible for advising the IRS on disputes with these former clients and would advise the IRS and Treasury on tax regulations that will affect your former clients, absent appropriate recusal measures,” wrote Senator Warren.
Senator Warren is requesting that Mr. Korb, should he be confirmed:
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Recuse himself for four years from all specific-party matters involving his former clients and employers and all particular matters that are likely to directly and predictably affect their financial interests;
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Refrain from seeking employment or board membership with, or another form of compensation from, a company that has been engaged in a dispute or other interaction with the IRS regarding which he provided legal advice for at least four years after leaving office; and
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Agree not to serve as a lobbyist or informal “shadow lobbyist” for at least four years after leaving office.
Senator Warren noted that the prior IRS Chief Counsel Marjorie Rollinson made these commitments as part of her confirmation process, alongside other Biden Administration nominees.
“By making these commitments, you would increase Americans’ trust in your ability to serve the public interest—rather than the special interests of mega-corporations seeking tax breaks—during your time at the IRS,” concluded the senator.
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