President Trump asked Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in February to speed the confirmation of his handpicked nominee for chief counsel of the IRS—placing a higher priority on filling the relatively obscure position than on the confirmation of William Barr as attorney general. That’s according to The New York Times, which reports Trump’s pick for the IRS’s top lawyer, Michael J. Desmond, previously served as a tax adviser to the Trump Organization. Trump’s push to prioritize Desmond’s confirmation came as Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, where they have the power to subpoena records and request documents. This week, the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee formally requested that the IRS turn over six years of Trump’s personal tax returns to Congress—a request that will now be vetted by Michael Desmond.