Judicial Watch: New Documents Show IRS HQ Control of Tea Party Targeting

Gill · May 15, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - May 14, 2014) - Judicial Watch today released a new batch of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents revealing that its handling of Tea Party applications was directed out of the agency's headquarters in Washington, DC. The documents also show extensive pressure on the IRS by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) to shut down conservative-leaning tax-exempt organizations. The IRS' emails by Lois Lerner detail her misleading explanations to investigators about the targeting of Tea Party organizations.

The documents came in response to an October 2013 Judicial Watch Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed after the agency refused to respond to four FOIA requests dating back to May 2013 (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Internal Revenue Service (No. 1:13-cv-01559)).

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/judicial-watch-documents-show-irs-172513364.html

One email showing coordination between Cincinnati and Washington:

EOT is working the Tea party applications in coordination with Cincy. We are developing a few applications here in DC and providing copies of our development letters with the agent to use as examples in the development of their cases. Chip Hull [another lawyer in IRS headquarters] is working these cases in EOT and working with the agent in Cincy, so any communication should include him as well. Because the Tea party applications are the subject of an SCR [Sensitive Case Report], we cannot resolve any of the cases without coordinating with Rob.

The most troubling revelation is that Senator Carl Levin (D, Mich.) asked the IRS to investigate a number of conservative groups that opposed him and the Obama administration:

A series of letters between Senator Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations, and top IRS officials throughout 2012 discuss how to target conservative groups the senator claimed were "engaged in political activities." In response to a Levin March 30 letter citing the "urgency of the issue," then-Deputy Commissioner Steven Miller assured the senator that IRS regulations were flexible enough to allow IRS agents to "prepare individualized questions and requests" for select 501(c)(4) organizations.
The newly released IRS documents contain several letters and emails revealing an intense effort by Levin and IRS officials to determine what, if any, existing IRS policies could be used to revoke the nonprofit exemptions of active conservative groups and deny exemptions to new applicants. In a July 30, 2012, letter, Levin singles out 12 groups he wants investigated for "political activity." Of the groups -- which include the Club for Growth, Americans for Tax Reform, the 60 Plus Association, and the Susan B. Anthony List -- only one, Priorities USA, is notably left-leaning.

Appears to be a bit more than a "smidgeon" of corruption at the IRS, contrary to Obama's assertions.

mtm1963 · May 15, 2014

yet again JW using the FOIA to get documents from this administration that it should have already released!

transparency from this administration doesn't exist.

Blue_State · May 15, 2014

Dude, that was like two years ago.

WCH · May 15, 2014

Obama goes from angrily stating "We will get to the bottom of this" to "not a smidgen of corruption" in the blink of an eye.

He and his entire administration are nothing but blatant liars. When will the people insist on the truth?

tres borrachos · May 15, 2014

Blue_State said:
Dude, that was like two years ago.

:yt

humbolt · May 15, 2014

Well damn. A pattern is developing here. Lie, obfuscate, withhold, and then claim it's an old event when it's outed. It's not working.

Jango · May 15, 2014

humbolt said:
Well damn. A pattern is developing here. Lie, obfuscate, withhold, and then claim it's an old event when it's outed. It's not working.

That's not entirely true. Those :spin: tactics work on a lot of people. My claim is evidenced by members here on this board.

humbolt · May 15, 2014

Jango said:
That's not entirely true. Those :spin: tactics work on a lot of people. My claim is evidenced by members here on this board.

Well, of course you're correct. I was speaking of those with IQ's which reach into the triple digits, primarily.

vesper · May 15, 2014

mtm1963 said:
yet again JW using the FOIA to get documents from this administration that it should have already released!

transparency from this administration doesn't exist.

The problem is that many of these documents that Judicial Watch received through taking it to court are some of the same documents Congress asked for and received from the administration but were heavily redacted often leaving out names or anything that would show abuse of power or reveal this administration lying. How pathetic is it that Congress can't get a readable document but a private organization through the legal system can?

Grim17 · May 15, 2014

Remember Carney and all the gang claiming that this was the actions of a few lower level employees in Cincinnati? Well according to these emails this was tied to several branches, most significantly the main IRS branch in Washington DC. The emails also point out that the "Tea Party" was specifically singled out and discussed in emails, while none of the emails examined thus far have had a word to say about progressive groups at all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't singling out the Tea Party make this political targeting and constitute significantly more than "a smidgen" of corruption?

apdst · May 15, 2014

mtm1963 said:
yet again JW using the FOIA to get documents from this administration that it should have already released!

transparency from this administration doesn't exist.

If they didn't keep everything locked down, someone would be in jail by now.

Lutherf · May 15, 2014

Grim17 said:
Remember Carney and all the gang claiming that this was the actions of a few lower level employees in Cincinnati? Well according to these emails this was tied to several branches, most significantly the main IRS branch in Washington DC. The emails also point out that the "Tea Party" was specifically singled out and discussed in emails, while none of the emails examined thus far have had a word to say about progressive groups at all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't singling out the Tea Party make this political targeting and constitute significantly more than "a smidgen" of corruption?

No. It's a witch hunt. Bush did it. It was a long time ago. Nobody cares about that stuff. That's racist. The Koch brothers did it. Why do you hate Mexicans. I was golfing at the time.

Here's the deal, folks. Organizations like Judicial Watch have to be the ones that get this information because the animosity toward the Tea Party isn't limited to Democrats. There's a whole bunch of Republicans out there too that would gladly turn a blind eye to any targeting and quite a few that would encourage it. Remember, we called for primarying a bunch of these bastards too. Those Republicans would be pleased as punch to get nothing but heavily redacted documents which show just enough to make a scene but not enough to convict. That way they get their cake and eat it too.

Y'know what's funny, 40-50 years ago the "don't trust the government" crowd were all hippies. Now they're running the show and sure as hell, you can't trust 'em.

polgara · May 15, 2014

Lutherf said:
No. It's a witch hunt. Bush did it. It was a long time ago. Nobody cares about that stuff. That's racist. The Koch brothers did it. Why do you hate Mexicans. I was golfing at the time.

Here's the deal, folks. Organizations like Judicial Watch have to be the ones that get this information because the animosity toward the Tea Party isn't limited to Democrats. There's a whole bunch of Republicans out there too that would gladly turn a blind eye to any targeting and quite a few that would encourage it. Remember, we called for primarying a bunch of these bastards too. Those Republicans would be pleased as punch to get nothing but heavily redacted documents which show just enough to make a scene but not enough to convict. That way they get their cake and eat it too.

Y'know what's funny, 40-50 years ago the "don't trust the government" crowd were all hippies. Now they're running the show and sure as hell, you can't trust 'em.

So history does indeed repeat! :thumbs: ... :lamo:

Good morning, Lutherf. :2wave:

Nicnam · May 15, 2014

vesper said:
The problem is that many of these documents that Judicial Watch received through taking it to court are some of the same documents Congress asked for and received from the administration but were heavily redacted often leaving out names or anything that would show abuse of power or reveal this administration lying. How pathetic is it that Congress can't get a readable document but a private organization through the legal system can?

Pathetic and shameful that a roundabout way has to be taken to get the documents,
but thankful there is a way to get them!

Renae · May 15, 2014

Gill said:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/judicial-watch-documents-show-irs-172513364.html

One email showing coordination between Cincinnati and Washington:

The most troubling revelation is that Senator Carl Levin (D, Mich.) asked the IRS to investigate a number of conservative groups that opposed him and the Obama administration:

Appears to be a bit more than a "smidgeon" of corruption at the IRS, contrary to Obama's assertions.

Bull****, these emails obviously show the IRS was doing it's job and teabaggers and their allies are just mad their illegal political activity was stymied now the GOP is trying to get angry white people on their side by making something out of their illegal behavior. It just so obvious when you feel about it!

American · May 15, 2014

Blue_State said:
Dude, that was like two years ago.

And what difference, at this point, does it make?

Fenton · May 15, 2014

Where's Pete ?

Where are the mixed bag of desperate Liberals attempting to mitigate away the latest batch of data that proves Obama ( and every other Democrat ) lied ?

So it wasn't "rogue agents in Cincinnati " ??

Lutherf · May 15, 2014

polgara said:
So history does indeed repeat! :thumbs: ... :lamo:

Good morning, Lutherf. :2wave:

Hi there Polgara.

Yes, history does repeat itself. It's quite the exercise in humility to sit there thinking "I'm the smartest SOB in the room" only to find out that your idea was tried in one form or another by folks that lived thousands of years ago.

j-mac · May 15, 2014

MrVicchio said:
Bull****, these emails obviously show the IRS was doing it's job and teabaggers and their allies are just mad their illegal political activity was stymied now the GOP is trying to get angry white people on their side by making something out of their illegal behavior. It just so obvious when you feel about it!

:lamo spot on impression.

Grim17 · May 15, 2014

Fenton said:
Where's Pete ?

Where are the mixed bag of desperate Liberals attempting to mitigate away the latest batch of data that proves Obama ( and every other Democrat ) lied ?

So it wasn't "rogue agents in Cincinnati " ??

Obviously the liberal talking points haven't been issued yet... As soon as they are, he'll make an appearance.

Hicup · May 15, 2014

Grim17 said:
Obviously the liberal talking points haven't been issued yet... As soon as they are, he'll make an appearance.

hehehe so true.

Tim-

Gill · May 15, 2014

Grim17 said:
Obviously the liberal talking points haven't been issued yet... As soon as they are, he'll make an appearance.

Yep, Media Matters must not have published a response yet, so the libs on this board don't how to react yet.

jmotivator · May 15, 2014

Everyone made my joke first. eace

jmotivator · May 15, 2014

Gill said:
Yep, Media Matters must not have published a response yet, so the libs on this board don't how to react yet.

Come on now, get your sources straight! Media Matters is Pete's go to for all things Fox News related, for scandal white washing he uses MoveOn.org

APACHERAT · May 15, 2014

The Obama administration caught again in another lie and cover up.

When will the Democrats grow a pair and tell Obama it's time to step down ?

Judicial Watch: New Documents Show IRS HQ Control of Tea Party Targeting

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