American tax officials

Chapter 339 Mass Defection: The Councilors Were Stunned

Donald scoffed after hearing this and replied, "In America, it's perfectly normal for law enforcement agencies to receive complaints. What's so strange about that? And what's there to explain?"

Michelson did not immediately refute, but instead took out a file folder, opened it, and took out a stack of photos. Upon seeing these photos, the room and the audience erupted in uproar.

Because in these photos, some people have bruises and swelling, some have head injuries and are bleeding profusely; in short, they look terrible.

"Complaints are certainly normal, but in our country of America, human rights are paramount. Look at these citizens being persecuted by your IRS. Can you honestly say you're not abusing your power to enforce the law violently?"

Mitchellson's accusations only amplified the already uproar at the scene.

"If this was really done by the IRS, then it's incredibly inhumane!"

"Yes, we can accept the IRS having a lot of power, but we cannot accept using such violent methods against us citizens!"

"The IRS, as a national law enforcement agency, cannot resort to such crude methods like a gang. Even if I support the IRS, I must say this."

"..."

To be honest, before these photos were released, most people online, apart from those criminals whose interests were harmed, supported the IRS.

But they couldn't tolerate these photos after they came out.

It is said that in America, only death and taxes are unavoidable.

While this statement may be slightly exaggerated, it does reflect, from one perspective, the inevitable intersection between citizens and the IRS.

What if one day they fail to pay their taxes due to negligence and are treated so harshly by the IRS?

This is what all citizens are worried about!

"Congressman Mitchellson, nobody knows where you got these photos, and nobody knows if these victims were actually subjected to violence by our IRS. If they were indeed taken by our IRS inspectors, I believe there must have been a reason. Why don't you specify which region these cases are from, so that I and the public can understand them before we discuss this issue properly? Otherwise, what's the difference between this and taking things out of context?"

This time, it was David who spoke out.

Upon hearing his explanation, the online supporters of the former State Taxation Administration instantly came to their senses.

Yes, how can we conclude that the IRS was using excessive force based solely on photos of some victims?

Even if it is true that there was excessive force used by law enforcement, can't there be a reason for it?

When police officers and FBI agents encounter violent resistance, they often empty their magazines. Does that also constitute violent law enforcement?

If the events depicted in these photos were indeed carried out by the IRS, then they didn't even deploy weapons; they simply gave these people a good beating. In some ways, this is far more benevolent than the actions of the police and the FBI!

"Since we dared to present these photos to Congress and the entire nation, they are certainly not fake. The victims in these photos were all victims of your IRS investigators—there is no doubt about that!"

After Mitchellson finished speaking, he looked at Dilpan, who was standing to the side.

He was well aware that although he had produced these photos, there were still many loopholes and they were not convincing enough.

This requires professionals like Deerpan to step forward and use their expertise to close these loopholes, which would further drag the IRS into the abyss.

But soon, Mitchellson and his team realized something was wrong.

Because when faced with his gaze, Dilpan acted as if he hadn't seen it, standing there blankly like a wooden statue.

"What's wrong with this bastard? How can he get distracted in a situation like this?"

Mitchellson cursed inwardly, then subtly nudged Dilpan's thigh.

Unexpectedly, the other party remained unmoved, standing there like a wooden statue.

He couldn't hold back any longer and said directly to Dilpin, "Mr. Dilpin, as the lead counsel for our hearing, do you have anything to add?"

"I...I don't think I have anything to add!"

When Dilpan said this, almost everyone, both inside and outside the arena, was stunned.

It's obvious to anyone with eyes that although Mitchellson was ostensibly the representative at this hearing, the real "engine" was the senior lawyer, Deerpin.

But now, Mitchellson has already launched an attack, while your engine, Dilpan, has suddenly stalled. What's going on?

"Fuck, so this bastard was the traitor!"

Over here, Madu Aikai, who had been listening in, finally understood that the traitor was this guy.

While Langman, seated in his seat, didn't appear too out of sorts, his expression wasn't much better.

They knew there was a traitor in the committee, but they never expected it to be Dilpan, a key figure in the committee.

If that's the case, then things could get a little messy...

"What's going on? This Deerpan is the House of Representatives' personal lawyer. He's here to help the members of Congress at the hearing expose the IRS's illegal activities. Why has he suddenly gone silent?"

"Yes, in the past, when attending hearings, this lawyer Dilpan's words were very sharp, and he could always make the target red-faced. Today he is indeed a bit abnormal."

"Could it be... that this top lawyer is also afraid of Inspector General David?"

The viewers also noticed something amiss and began to speculate.

Meanwhile, the Freemasons watching the hearing all had grim expressions, clearly realizing the situation was turning sour.

Unfortunately, even though they knew the situation was bad, they were helpless and could only hope that it wouldn't deteriorate further in the coming days.

……

At the Congressional venue.

Donald turned to look at David, smiled slightly, and gave him an approving look.

Because David had deliberately kept him in suspense before he arrived, and hadn't told him any details, he didn't know that the other party's chief lawyer had actually taken care of things for them.

Now he finally understood why this kid was so confident.

However, dealing with Deerpan only solved one major problem; the IRS was far from out of danger.

After all, the House of Representatives brought in several lawyers, not just Deerpin.

Putting his thoughts aside, Donald turned his attention back to the podium.

Meanwhile, Michelson, who was in the center of the stage, also understood. It seemed that Dilpan had betrayed him for some reason, which made him furious.

To be honest, after FBI Deputy Director Madhu Aikai arrived and said those words, he guessed that there might be a mole in the team. Otherwise, the deputy director would not have come in person and said those coercive and enticing words.

Afterwards, he carefully considered the suspicious individuals in the team, but he never doubted Dilpan.

Because they have collaborated many times, have a good personal relationship, and trust each other implicitly.

But to his surprise, this very person he trusted most had just embarrassed him in front of the entire world, so at this moment, Mitchellson wished he could just stand up and punch him a couple of times.

But the thought that this was Congress, and that media outlets around the world were broadcasting it live, forced him to suppress his anger.

After calming himself down, Michelson said to the man to Dilpan's right, "Mr. Latius, is there anything you'd like to add?"

His thinking was the same as many others: even if Dilpan had betrayed them, they still had other lawyers on their side.

As long as these lawyers stand up and continue to attack the IRS using their professional knowledge and eloquence, they still have a chance of winning.

However, his plan was quite good, but reality gave him a harsh slap in the face.

"I...I have nothing to add!"

hiss……

These words struck Mitchellson, Longman, and the Freemasons like a hammer blow, leaving them breathless.

It's one thing that Dilpan betrayed us, but did the lawyer Lattiou also betray us?

How can we continue fighting this battle?

"What the heck? What does this mean? Why aren't either of the lawyers offering any opinions at the hearing? Are they just here to watch the show?"

"Judging from past experience, Dilpan and Lattiou are usually the ones who love to rant and rave in parliament. Why are they playing ostriches today?"

"Look at the shocked expressions on Mitchellson's and the other councilors' faces. They clearly didn't expect this to happen. Something must have gone wrong within their ranks!"

"It certainly seems so. Could it be that these two lawyers have secretly sided with the IRS, and are deliberately trying to embarrass those congressmen?"

Such an absurd and ridiculous hearing left the onlookers quite astonished.

"Fuck, what the hell are these bastards doing?!"

"Damn it..."

"How could this happen..."

Meanwhile, Freemasons watching from various locations were also enraged and began to curse.

First it was Dilpan, then it was Lattiou. This time, the two elite lawyers they hired to target the IRS have both betrayed them. How can they possibly win?

Even more serious is the question: if these two have betrayed us, what about the rest of the lawyers? Will they also betray us?

The moment this idea came out, the Freemasons felt a chill run down their spines.

If that's the case, then they've not only lost today's hearing, they might even be remembered in the annals of hearings and laughed at by everyone for countless years to come.

After all, since the hearing system was established, there has never been a hearing like this, where all the lawyers on this side have been turned against them.

This is a joke!

However, they really do get whatever they want.

After Lattiou made this statement, the other lawyers did not show much surprise, but rather appeared uneasy and uncomfortable.

In other words, their chilling guess might actually be true: the traitor wasn't just one or two people, but perhaps... the entire legal team!

At this moment, the Freemasons' spirits plummeted to rock bottom.

Meanwhile, Michelson, sitting at the table, naturally sensed something was wrong from the expressions of the other members of the legal team.

This filled him with great anger and also left him feeling very puzzled.

You say you're David, and you can handle Dilpan and Lattiou, but how did you manage to handle the entire legal team?

Moreover, it should be noted that the hearing only takes two or three days from its announcement to its decision to proceed, and the members are not disclosed. How did David manage to find the list and secretly take care of these people in such a short time?

This is outrageous!

This is arguably the most outrageous thing Mitchellson and the other members of Congress present have ever encountered in all their years in Congress.

"Congressman Mitchellson, please continue answering my previous questions. Which district and branch office are these photos from? And are you deliberately taking them out of context to incite public criticism of our IRS? If you don't explain clearly, then you're just smearing our IRS!"

David had already realized that the legal team's actions had thrown the members of parliament on the stage into disarray. He was no longer going to sit idly by; he stood up and demanded an explanation from the public.

"Yes, Inspector General David is right. These details need to be explained clearly, otherwise what's the difference between this and throwing dirty water?"

"Their own legal team had nothing to say, yet they dared to hold a hearing to criticize the IRS. That's really a bit ridiculous."

"Mitchellson and other members of Congress were threatening to do this or that to the IRS during this hearing, and now look what they've done!"

On stage, although Mitchellson didn't know what the online opinion was like, judging from the surrounding media reporters and the atmosphere, he had guessed that the whole country seemed to be watching them make a fool of themselves. This made him so angry that his veins were bulging, but he didn't know how to refute it.

Because in past hearings, these members of Congress have only been responsible for bringing up the charges against the party being subpoenaed and for exaggerating the charges, but how to accuse and substantiate those charges is the responsibility of the legal team.

Now that the legal team has betrayed him, and he was unprepared and lacked the professional skills and eloquence to refute them, he naturally had no way to do so.

After a long pause, Michelson could only look at Dilpan, Lattiou, and the other members of his legal team with a look of resentment, anger, and even a hint of pleading, hoping that they would change their minds and say a few words in his defense.

Unfortunately, the legal team ignored his gaze and remained seated, seemingly oblivious.

"Damn it!"

Mitchellson cursed inwardly, then looked at Longman, the pillar of the group. Unfortunately, Longman, like him, was thrown into disarray by the sudden collective betrayal and had no countermeasures left, so he could only remain silent.

Ultimately, knowing he was powerless to change the situation, Michelson didn't want to embarrass himself any further, so he stood up and left his seat.

When the other members of parliament saw that the representatives of the hearing had all left, they exchanged glances and could only slink away as well.

"What's going on? Why did the councilors just leave like that?"

"This is a hearing! How could they just leave like that?"

"The hearing took an unexpected turn; it seems the legal team members were turned against us. What else can these lawmakers do but stay and make a fool of themselves?"

"This is probably the most ridiculous hearing in the history of the U.S. Congress! I've never seen anything like it!"

This sudden turn of events left not only the media reporters on site bewildered, but also the public watching the live stream online.

Such a turn of events at the hearing is something many people remember as the first time in so many years in the United States.

However, it didn't take long for many people to figure out the reason.

In past hearings, the division of labor between members of Congress and their legal teams has been very clear: members of Congress will impeach the subpoenaed person, and the legal team will use their professional abilities to refute the subpoenaed person's answers and pin charges on them.

To put it simply, the members of Congress at the hearing are the employers, and the legal team is the henchmen. Now that the henchmen are no longer physically strong, how can the employer, no matter how rich, possibly defeat the other side without the power (the lawyers' professional skills)?

Only through the cooperation of both parties can the summoned target be brought to justice to the greatest extent possible.

Now that their legal team has completely defected, the remaining members of Congress are naturally left to fend for themselves. How can this hearing possibly continue?

So their departure now is merely a matter of maintaining appearances.

(End of this chapter)