'Mar-a-Lago Mafia, The Epstein Class': Walkinshaw on those protecting Trump IRS audit immunity

[0:00] Leading off our discussion tonight is Democratic Congressman James Walkinshaw of Virginia. [0:04] He's a member of the House Oversight Committee and House Homeland Security Committee. [0:09] Congressman Walkinshaw, always great to see you. [0:14] Trump's DOJ appears to have caved on the slush fund because of intense Republican backlash. [0:19] Where are they on the other provisions in Trump's settlement deal, [0:23] banning tax audits of Trump and his family, for instance? [0:26] Well, unfortunately, Republicans are full steam ahead to give the Trump family immunity from tax audits. [0:34] And it's outrageous. Look, hardworking Americans, someone out there today making 50 grand a year, [0:40] busting their butt to feed their family, they should know they're subject to audit by Donald Trump's IRS. [0:45] But the one man, the one family who can't be audited, the Trump family. [0:49] They think they're above the law. It's the Mar-a-Lago mafia, the Epstein class. [0:55] Yes, all of it is coming together in this outrageous deal to protect the Trump family, [1:01] to allow them to get away with cheating on their taxes. Absolutely outrageous. [1:07] Well, speaking of Epstein, what do you want Todd Blanche to answer for regarding the Epstein files in his confirmation hearing? [1:15] Well, I think we could just go through the transcript from our interview with Pam Bondi [1:20] and look at every time she said, you need to ask Todd Blanche, why were there illegal redactions made? [1:27] You need to ask Todd Blanche. [1:30] Why were the files scrubbed for mentions of Donald Trump? [1:35] You need to ask Todd Blanche. [1:37] Why were survivors' names and information and some cases stories of abuse released when they shouldn't have? [1:49] You got to ask Todd Blanche. [1:50] So folks in the Senate for that confirmation hearing should just go through our interview with Pam Bondi [1:57] and ask all the questions that she said we should ask Todd Blanche. [2:02] Speaking of still, the transcript of the Oversight Committee's interview with Pam Bondi says, and I'm quoting, [2:09] question, before you left your position as attorney general, [2:12] were there attorneys or other DOJ employees still working to rectify redaction errors in the files? [2:18] Bondi, I believe so, especially if anyone reached out to us saying there was an error, [2:24] including members of Congress who have the ability to look at the unredacted versions. [2:28] I believe they still have that ability. [2:30] So, Congressman, do members of Congress still have that ability? [2:36] Yes. [2:36] The reading room is open. [2:40] Members of Congress can schedule time to go over there and review the 3 million files. [2:45] I've been over there several times myself. [2:48] But it's important to note the way that they set up this process makes it impossible to truly review all the files. [2:56] If all 435 or 535 members of the House and Senate went over there to review the files, [3:03] it would take us months and months and months to do it. [3:06] They refuse to allow congressional staff or trained investigators that work for Congress to review those files and those redactions. [3:14] They clearly don't want the public to truly see what's there. [3:18] One more question on this. [3:21] Do they allow you to take notes? [3:27] You know, there's been some inconsistency on that. [3:31] I'm going to tell you, I've gone a couple of times and have been able to take notes. [3:35] No one has stopped me. [3:36] I've heard other members of Congress have been prevented from taking notes while they were there. [3:41] So there seems to maybe have been some changes in that policy over time. [3:46] We do know that, you know, when members of Congress log into that system, [3:49] they're tracking us by name to see which files each of us review. [3:55] Pam Bondi was asked that question and didn't deny that that continues to happen. [3:59] So, Congressman, Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee voted late last night [4:04] to codify Trump's Department of War name change. [4:09] The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a full renaming could cost as much as $125 million taxpayer dollars. [4:18] What exactly are taxpayers getting in return? [4:22] Nothing. [4:23] And look, I mean, there's a lot of irony here. [4:26] We've heard from the administration that they had the authority to change the name. [4:31] They've essentially asserted that they've changed the name on their own. [4:35] I don't know why they needed to get Congress to change the name, [4:38] since they thought they could change the name on their own. [4:41] And look, this is the same crowd that screamed as loud as they could [4:46] about changing names of bases named after Confederate generals [4:50] who took up arms to destroy the United States Constitution [4:53] that might have cost $100,000 or $200,000. [4:57] They're prepared now to spend $125 million to rename this [5:02] because it makes them feel tough. [5:04] That's what it's all about. [5:05] Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump like to feel tough, [5:07] so they want to change the name so they can feel tougher. [5:09] Let me get you on one more thing, Congressman. [5:12] Today, Donald Trump was asked about his acting National Intelligence Director, Bill Pulte. [5:17] Listen to this. [5:18] I've been too high for way too long. [5:25] So, Congressman, what concerns do you have for your constituents, [5:30] thousands of whom work in national security, intelligence, and federal service? [5:35] The Trump administration for this entire term has taken the chainsaw, really, [5:41] starting with the Doge chainsaw, to critical intelligence agencies [5:46] and intelligence capacities of the federal government. [5:50] And the American people are less safe as a result. [5:54] And now they want to put a clown, an absolute clown, [5:57] in Bill Pulte in charge of ODNI. [6:01] It's ridiculous. [6:03] Every single member of Congress, Republican or Democrat, should oppose it. [6:08] This is a guy who got a job as a mortgage regulator [6:11] and used that to weaponize that agency [6:14] against Donald Trump's perceived political enemies. [6:16] He should not be within 100 miles [6:20] of any national security or intelligence responsibility. [6:25] Oversight Committee member Congressman James Walkenshaw [6:27] of the great Commonwealth of Virginia, thanks for joining us tonight. [6:30] Thanks, Jonathan.