IRS Apologizes For Aggressive Scrutiny Of Conservative Groups
October 27, 20173:08 PM ET
Peter Overby 2010
PETER OVERBY
The Justice Department has entered settlements for two cases related to IRS scrutiny of groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
I
n a legal settlement that still awaits a federal judge's approval, the IRS "expresses its sincere apology" for mistreating a conservative organization called Linchpins of Liberty — along with 40 other conservative groups — in their applications for tax-exempt status.
And in a second case, NorCal Tea Party Patriots and 427 other groups suing the IRS also reached a "substantial financial settlement" with the government.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the two settlements Thursday. The Justice Department quoted him as saying of the IRS activity:
"There is no excuse for this conduct. Hundreds of organizations were affected by these actions, and they deserve an apology from the IRS. We hope that today's settlement makes clear that this abuse of power will not be tolerated."
It's "a historic victory," said Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative nonprofit legal group representing the Linchpins plaintiffs. Sekulow, who is also on President Trump's personal legal-defense team, said the IRS agreed to stop "the abhorrent practices utilized against our clients."
IRS Apologizes For Aggressive Scrutiny Of Conservative Groups : NPR