Trump’s opponents, James Comey and Andrew McCabe, have reportedly been subject to rare and rigorous scrutiny by the IRS.

Former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe were subjected to rare and severe conditions IRS audits of 2017 and 2019 revenue, respectively, according to letters from the IRS that both men filed with New York times.

Comey was informed of the audit in 2019, while McCabe learned in 2021, according to The Times.

McCabe took the reins of the FBI in 2017 in the turbulent days after then-President Donald Trump abruptly fired Comey, and himself fired the following year. Comey’s impeachment led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lead the government’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Trump has attacked both men relentlessly over the Russia investigation, and has publicly called for both to be prosecuted.

“Your federal income tax return for the year described above has been randomly selected for a research compliance check,” the IRS letters to both the men and their spouses said, according to copies of the letters published by The Times. “We should examine randomly selected tax returns to better understand tax compliance and improve the fairness of the tax system. We will give you the opportunity to explain any errors we may find during the exam.”

The letters said Comey’s audit indicated a comeback in 2017 and that McCabe was for 2019.

Usually, returns made within the past three years can be included in the audit, the IRS website States.

Comey did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment, but he did address a scrutiny of a statement to The Times. “I don’t know if anything inappropriate happened, but after learning how extraordinary this review was and how badly Trump wanted to hurt me during that time, it made sense to try and figure it out,” he said. “Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe someone misused the IRS to get into a political enemy. Given the role Trump wants to continue to play in our country, we should know the answer to that question.”

Charles Rettig, a Trump appointee, has led the IRS since 2018.

The audit reportedly found that Comey and his wife were overpaid in 2017. They then recovered $347, according to The Times.

McCabe did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News, but told the newspaper that the results of his audit showed that he and his wife owed a small amount that the couple had paid.

“The revenue agent I dealt with was professional and responsive,” McCabe said. “However, I have important questions about how and why I was chosen for this.”

For all filings for tax years 2011 through 2019, the IRS examined 0.55 percent of individual returns filed, the agency said in its report. information book Posted in September.

When reached for comment, an IRS spokeswoman referred to federal privacy laws, which she said prevent the agency from discussing specific taxpayer situations.

“Audits are handled by professional civil servants, and the IRS has strong safeguards in place to protect the exam process—and against politically motivated audits. It would be absurd and incorrect to suggest that it would be absurd and incorrect to suggest that senior IRS officials have in some way targeted certain individuals for NRP audits. We cannot comment on specific situations. Whenever allegations of wrongdoing are raised on a tax issue, we routinely contact the IRS Treasury Inspector General for further review.”

Trump spokesmen did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment. The newspaper said a Trump spokeswoman said the former president had “no knowledge” of the audits.

was komi fired suddenly In 2017, while his agency was looking into whether people involved in Trump’s presidential campaign had undisclosed ties to Russia. McCabe became acting director after Comey was fired, Only to be terminated Then months later within days of qualifying for a full pension.

Trump has often ridiculed officials, criticizing them and others for their investigation into election interference and obstruction of justice in the 2016 presidential election. Trump accused Comey and McCabe of betrayal They alleged that FBI and Justice Department officials launched the Russian investigation to politically harm him.

internal justice department observer report She later found that the Russian investigation stemmed from evidence that Moscow was using cutters to gain access to the Trump campaign as part of its efforts to influence the election.