Kies departs; IRS tension in Trump era exposes dispute over audits and a controversial settlement, signaling churn in tax policy leadership.
Kies has left his roles as assistant Treasury secretary and acting IRS chief counsel. Reports indicate he warned White House officials against directing audits, triggering Democratic concerns that officials interfered with tax enforcement. The White House says Kies was not a team player amid questions about a settlement that could shield Trump from probes.