At the June 3, 2026 Senate Finance Committee hearing, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) went straight at Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over one of the most explosive scandals of the Trump era — a secret IRS settlement giving Trump and his family complete immunity from tax audits.
Bessent repeatedly claimed he and the Treasury Department had no agency in the lawsuit, deferring entirely to the Justice Department — a response that left Luján visibly furious. Roll Call
Luján didn't hold back: "You're telling me, as the secretary of U.S. Treasury, you don't know that the president of the United States, who I think you work for, got a sweetheart deal from the Department of Justice, who's your lawyer?" Roll Call
The hearing came after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified that the Justice Department would not be moving forward with the $1.776 billion compensation fund — but the IRS audit immunity portion of the settlement remained in effect. CPA Practice Advisor
Bessent's go-to answer throughout — "There's continuing litigation, and I'm unable to comment on ongoing litigation" — drew repeated frustration from Democrats across both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. Washington Times
Luján was also among a group of Senate Democrats who signed a formal letter demanding answers on the settlement addendum that prevents the DOJ from bringing any action or pursuing any tax audit into Trump, his family members, or affiliated companies — a deal senators described as unprecedented and potentially illegal. U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
The man who oversees the IRS claims he knows nothing. Luján wasn't buying it.

🔗 Sources:

Roll Call: https://rollcall.com/2026/06/03/bessent-stays-mum-on-anti-weaponization-fund-at-hearing/
NBC News / Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/3/scott-bessent-refuses-say-whether-president-trump-remains-exempt-irs/
Sen. Bennet press release (w/ Luján co-sign): https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/06/03/bennet-leads-subcommittee-on-taxation-and-irs-oversight-letter-demanding-answers-on-agreement-shielding-trump-family-from-irs-audits/
YouTube (Mediaite clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMJNUkOzbJI


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