Report: IRS launched criminal investigation into Clinton Foundation in 2019, then halted abruptly

Hold onto your tax forms, folks — internal memos reveal the IRS under President Donald Trump kicked off a criminal probe into the Clinton Foundation in early 2019, only to slam on the brakes faster than a bureaucrat dodging accountability, as Just the News reports.

The story boils down to this: the IRS initiated a serious tax investigation into the Clinton Foundation’s global charity dealings, engaged with dedicated whistleblowers, then inexplicably shut down cooperation by spring 2019, leaving allegations of financial misconduct dangling like an unpaid tax bill.

Let’s rewind to early 2019, when the IRS, with a keen eye on potential wrongdoing, began scrutinizing the Clinton Foundation’s operations alongside major international charity players. Whistleblowers John Moynihan, a seasoned DEA financial crimes analyst, and Larry Doyle, a corporate tax expert, stepped forward with years of research in hand. They weren’t just tossing out theories — they had evidence and even testified before Congress about suspected financial shenanigans.

Uncovering allegations of misconduct

Between late January and mid-April 2019, Moynihan and Doyle held multiple meetings with IRS criminal investigators, laying out their case with detailed submissions. They filed several IRS forms claiming awards for original information, targeting not just the Foundation but five related nonprofits. It seemed the IRS was ready to dig deep, even considering formalizing the duo as official informants or cooperating witnesses.

Internal memos from those early months show the IRS wasn’t just nodding politely — they were genuinely intrigued, with agents in field offices from Dallas to Newark reportedly involved. There’s even a note from a meeting in Connecticut listing the whistleblowers as key witnesses, alongside allegations of tax evasion and personal expenses — like travel — being covered by Foundation funds. Well, isn’t that a convenient way to jet-set on someone else’s dime?

The Clinton Foundation, along with its health initiative arm, reportedly amassed about $2.8 billion over the years, sitting on net assets of over $400 million. Yet, according to the whistleblowers, the Foundation strayed far from its original purpose of building a library, dabbling in health care issues, and allegedly operating as a foreign agent without proper registration. Even donor Bill Gates was said to be uneasy about some of these pivots — imagine that, a billionaire with a conscience twitch.

IRS interest goes silent

But here’s where the plot thickens — by spring 2019, the IRS went radio silent. Agents, once eager to chat, started muttering, “Can’t talk about the CF,” as if the Foundation’s initials were a forbidden spell. Internal emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show a clear shift from active interest to a full stop by July 2019.

Moynihan and Doyle didn’t just twiddle their thumbs — they’d previously submitted 6,000 pages of evidence back in 2017, alleging everything from improper mixing of personal and charity business to quid pro quo deals during Hillary Clinton’s time as secretary of State. Their 2018 testimony before a Republican-led House committee claimed the Foundation acted as an agent for foreign governments without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. That’s not just a paperwork slip; it’s a potential legal bombshell.

One IRS investigator, after reviewing documents, reportedly declared, “Well, this means the entire enterprise is a fraud.” Ouch — that’s the kind of line that should’ve sparked a deeper dive, not a dead end. Yet, despite such strong words, the investigation hit a wall, with internal confusion and lost packages plaguing the IRS’s handling of the case.

Whistleblowers left in the lurch

The whistleblowers’ frustration is palpable, as their lawyer, Brian Della Rocca, told Just the News, “We are beyond frustrated.” It’s hard not to sympathize — imagine pouring years into exposing potential fraud, only to be ghosted by the very agency that asked for your help. Turns out, even the IRS can play the disappearing act better than a magician at a budget hearing.

Della Rocca also noted, “This time, we know for a fact that an investigation was started into the claims because it was done before the claims were filed.” Yet, once those formal claims landed with the IRS Whistleblower Office, the whole effort was seemingly shelved. It’s almost as if someone higher up decided this hot potato was too scalding to handle.

Adding to the intrigue, a declassified 2017 FBI memo suggests past political obstruction during earlier probes into potential pay-to-play schemes tied to the Foundation. While the Clinton Foundation has denied any wrongdoing, claiming past audit issues were resolved and full legal compliance maintained, the lack of response from both the Foundation and the IRS to recent inquiries doesn’t exactly scream transparency.

Questions of accountability linger

Now, Moynihan and Doyle are battling it out in U.S. Tax Court, with one case tentatively set for trial soon, fighting for recognition of their efforts. Their 2017 submission boldly stated there was “probable cause” that the Foundation violated IRS rules and acted beyond its stated mission. That’s not a light accusation — it’s a call for the rule of law to apply, no matter who’s in the spotlight.

So, what’s the takeaway from this bureaucratic rollercoaster? The sudden halt of a criminal probe into an organization with billions in play raises serious questions about accountability and whether political influence can still derail justice.

It’s worth pondering why an investigation with such damning initial findings was dropped without a clear explanation. If the IRS can’t follow through on credible claims, what does that say about oversight for powerful entities? This saga leaves a bitter taste, suggesting that some players might just be too big to audit.