Former Chief Counsels Support Desmond Nomination

April 5, 2018

The Honorable Senator Orrin Hatch
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Suite 209
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Senator Ron Wyden
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Suite 209
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Hatch and Senator Wyden:

The undersigned are all former Chief Counsels or Acting Chief Counsels of the Internal Revenue Service and we ae writing to both applaud the nomination of Michael Desmond to be Chief Counsel and recommend that he be confirmed as quickly as possible.

Mike is an excellent tax lawyer with the skills, understanding of the tax laws and tax practice, and background to be a superb Chief Counsel. He has been very active in the American Bar Association's Tax Section, has spoken throughout the country on numerous occasions and has served as a trial lawyer with the Department of Justice's Tax Division and as the Treasury Department's Tax Legislative Counsel. The legal tax community was thrilled with his nomination and now hopes that he will assume the position shortly.

Having served as Chief Counsel in the past, and being well aware of Mike's qualifications, we think his assuming the Chief Counsel position would be a great contribution to the Internal Revenue Service and the country at this critical time.

Very truly yours,

B. John Williams

William J. Wilkins

Abraham N.M. Shashy, Jr.

Clarissa Potter

Emily A. Parker

William F. Nelson

Fred T. Goldberg

Lawrence B. Gibbs

Donald L. Korb

N. Jerold Cohen