Free Republic

Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office. Wyden cited recordings of two instances of people saying they expect to receive favorable treatment from Long. “Our staff investigators have on tape now tax promoters saying you met with them at the inauguration and promised [them] a favorable private letter ruling,” Wyden said Tuesday during Long’s confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee....

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel announced his resignation just days before Trump’s return to the Oval Office. Werfel, who had three years left in his term, made the decision to step down on President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day as Trump has nominated former Missouri Congressman Billy Long as the new IRS Commissioner to revitalize the corrupt agency. “After significant introspection and consultation with others, I’ve determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on January 20, 2025,” Werfel said in a memo obtained by Wall Street Journal. “While leaving a job you love is never...

[snip] "I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Billy Long, of the Great State of Missouri, will be appointed to serve as the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Billy brings 32 years of experience running his own businesses in Real Estate and, as one of the premier Auctioneers in the Country. He then served 12 years in Congress, because he “felt it was important for his constituents to have a Representative who has signed the front of a check!” Since leaving Congress, Billy has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities...

The conservative commentator and provocateur Laura Loomer has been suspended from Twitter after the site accused her of “hate speech.” Loomer, who is still allowed to use Facebook, announced her suspension on Wednesday evening. Loomer put up a screenshot of the message she had received from Twitter, which said that she had been suspended for violating Twitter’s rules against “hateful conduct.” The message from Twitter said, “Your account, LauraLoomer, has been suspended for violating the Twitter Rules. Specifically, for violating our rules against hateful conduct.” Laura Loomer seems to have a bee in her bonnet about Ilhan Omar, who recently...

Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) uses his auctioneer skills to drown out a protester at Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's House hearing.

An Ozark, MO man says he had a peculiar visit this week. Clay Bowler says an FBI agent wanted to know about any confrontations with Representative Billy Long. Bowler, a political blogger, would attend Long's campaign events during the summer and ask political questions, even following Long to his car, hoping for answers on different topics. Tuesday, Bowler recorded the interview with the FBI. On the recording, Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott says Billy Long's staffers gave authorities Bowler's name. Bowler understands after the shootings in Tucson the FBI is trying to be proactive in finding threats, but he says...

Call it being a team player. If you’re a Republican House candidate flush with cash and poised to win, you can score points with leadership if you donate to competitive races. That cred could lead to good committee assignments down the line. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) followed that model in 2006 and ended up with a prime spot in leadership. Now he’s advising candidates from South Carolina to Missouri to do the same, even suggesting which contenders are most in need of funds for new ads. In a great year for their party, some House Republican challengers are doing more...

Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long — who after his election victory in August 2006 pledged to “take the department to a higher level” — now is in federal custody on extortion, money laundering and gun charges. Sheriff Long, 55, was escorted into U.S. District Court Saturday afternoon in jeans, a denim jacket and handcuffs. FBI agents had arrested him several hours earlier, the next step in what they said was an approximately 10-month investigation that is still continuing. Authorities said he will remain in custody in an undisclosed location pending the outcome of a bond hearing set for 2 p.m....