A video clip is making the rounds on social media, showing U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) squaring off during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in a heated exchange over a Justice Department tax settlement concerning President Donald Trump. During the back-and-forth, Bessent caught Sanchez in a lie and attempted to hold her accountable for it.
Sanchez kicked off the clip by asking Bessent, “Do you believe that people who lie on their tax returns should be audited?” The secretary answered in the affirmative. Sanchez followed up with a second question, asking, “Okay. Do you think that people who break our laws should be held accountable, our tax laws?”
Again, the secretary answered with a simple, “yes.” Sanchez then responded, “Okay. Thank you. Very simple. Not a hard question. I’m glad we agree. So why is it that you are allowing President Trump to have complete immunity from being audited?” Bessent answered by saying he’d have to refer Sanchez to his previous statement, which led to the congresswoman asking him what that statement was.
“I am unable to comment on any of the ongoing litigation,” Bessent said. “Okay, can you name the ongoing case concerning President Trump’s immunity from audit?” she followed up. The secretary stated that there are three cases that he would be happy to get back to the congresswoman about, noting that he is not an attorney and that he is represented by the DOJ.
“You said that you can’t because there’s ongoing litigation. You’ll get me the name of the ongoing litigation because the only ongoing litigation that I know of is surrounding the 1.8 million dollar slush fund, which has already been suspended,” Sanchez said. “The fact is that the judge’s ruling in the litigation that references that slush fund only addresses the anti-weaponization fund.”
She then added, ” It doesn’t even address Trump’s immunity from audit, so I would like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record the judge’s order in the Floyd versus Department of Justice case. Now, Secretary, you said you’re not an attorney. Is that correct?” Bessent responded with a bit of wit and humor saying, “Mercifully,” which got a chuckle out of many in the room.
“Okay. Well, I am, and I’m actually proud to be an attorney and know the laws, and I know how to read a judicial ruling. Furthermore, I know that since 1962, the Supreme Court has held that ongoing litigation does not prevent someone from testifying in a congressional hearing. So once again, I’m going to ask, why are you allowing President Trump and his family to have complete immunity from being audited,” she asked Bessent.
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“Again, since you are a lawyer, you will understand that the U.S. Treasury and the IRS are represented by the Justice Department and the Acting Attorney General,” the secretary responded. Sanchez came back with, “Yes, but I just mentioned a Supreme Court case that doesn’t bar you from testifying. It’s pretty clear to me, though.”
“However, that you’re not interested in answering questions; you’re interested in arguing. Let me ask you this question: If President Biden amended a prior tax return and claimed that he was owed $1 billion, do you think that that would be audited, or should it be audited?” Sanchez continued. Bessent told the congresswoman he wasn’t going to about any of that, which led to Sanchez accusing him of not being present at the hearing to answer legitimate questions.
“Excuse me, it’s my time. You’re not here to ask me questions. I’m here to ask you questions, and hopefully, you’re here to try to answer some of them. I’m curious to know who counts as Trump’s family for the purposes of this immunity. Is it his children, his in-laws, his grandchildren, his second or third cousin, his great great grandchildren. Do you know the answer to that question, Mr. Secretary?” Sanchez asked.
Bessent snapped back by saying, “Again, I imagine you have the Justice Department phone number. I suggest you call them.” Sanchez fired back, “I’m not the one that runs the Department of the Treasury or that oversees what is happening with this immunity –” but was interrupted by Bessent who said, “I’m not the one either. We follow the instructions of our lawyers and we obey the law.”
“I hope you’re proud of your performance today, Mr. Secretary,” to which Bessent replied, with razor-sharp wit, “I hope you get some social media clips.” Sanchez then let loose, saying the current Treasury Department was the most corrupt in the history of the country. Bessent said he would have to take exception to that comment.
“And while you answer on questions to protect Trump. Americans are suffering in Trump’s spiraling economy. Inflation is now rising faster than average hourly wages. Gas prices are at an all-time high with the war in Iran. The cost of groceries has risen 3.2 percent over the past years, and prices on most goods have gone up because of Trump’s tariffs, so I don’t see how you could call that anything other than a failure of the most corrupt Treasury Department in history. Your time is expired, Ms. Sanchez. Thank you. My time is expired, Secretary,” Sanchez said.
“The congresswoman is slanderous. She has nothing but un, but the unsubstantiated opinions, and I will not stand for that. There is nothing corrupt. We, the, we move at. The highest levels, and just because she cannot get the answer she wants, if she would like to give me facts, she seems long on facts, short on facts, long on hot air, and I will not stand for that,” Bessent said, closing out his exchange with Sanchez by dropping the hammer on her falsehoods.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video