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IRS employee: Washington showed “unprecedented interest” in Tea Party groups
Hotair ^ | 06/09/2013 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 06/08/2013 8:36:49 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Elizabeth Hofacre has turned out to be a gold mine to investigators of political corruption at the IRS. The Cincinnati-office specialist didn’t take kindly to having the entire mess dumped on the shoulders of her colleagues and herself, and has made it plain in depositions that this was no low-level innovation. The Hill became the latest media outlet to peruse the transcripts, and added a little more to the growing public record of the targeting effort’s genesis in Washington rather than Cincinnati:

An IRS staffer in Cincinnati told congressional investigators that a Washington official was the driving force behind the targeting of Tea Party organizations in 2010, and showed unprecedented interest in those groups’ tax-exempt applications.

Elizabeth Hofacre, the Cincinnati staffer, said that she started receiving applications from Tea Party groups to sift through in April, 2010. Hofacre’s handling of those cases, she said, was highly influenced by Carter Hull, an IRS lawyer in Washington.

As it turns out, the scapegoating wasn’t the only thing that angered Hofacre. Normally, the IRS doesn’t interfere with rank-and-file agents when they choose targets for their investigation and make decisions on applications. When it came to Tea Party and other conservative groups, Hofacre suddenly found that her autonomy had been stripped, which she found “demeaning”:

Hofacre said that she integrated questions from Hull into her follow-ups with Tea Party groups, and that Hull had to approve the letters seeking more information that she sent out to those organizations. That process, she said, was both unusual and “demeaning.”

“One of the criteria is to work independently and do research and make decisions based on your experience and education,” Hofacre said, according to transcripts reviewed by The Hill. “Whereas in this case, I had no autonomy at all through the process.”

“I thought it was over the top,” she added, in interviews held by investigators in both parties from the House Oversight and Ways and Means committees. “I am not sure where it came from, but it was a bit unusual.”

In the end, even Hofacre ended up getting stalled and stonewalled by Hull, she claims. Hofacre got so tired of dealing with angry applicants who couldn’t fathom why the IRS kept stalling that she took another position. Hofacre also told investigators that requests for donor lists were “appalling,” but those requests came after she had already left.

The “low-level employee” defense is crumbling in both fact and perception. Gallup’s latest survey shows that 59% of all adults believe that high-ranking IRS officials knew full well about the targeting of conservatives, and even a plurality of Democrats do too:

Nearly six in 10 Americans believe that high-ranking IRS officials in Washington were aware the IRS had a practice of targeting conservative political groups for greater scrutiny in recent years. One-quarter think knowledge of this was mainly limited to the agency’s office in Cincinnati where the mishandled applications for tax-exempt status were processed.

Almost as many — 50% — believe that high-ranking Obama administration officials knew about it, too. That includes 54% of independents. Barack Obama’s approval rating on handling the issue is just 32/58, and with 77% of Americans believing this to be a serious matter (49% say very serious), that’s a bad position to be in — especially with two NSA scandals being added to the Scandalabra this week.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: 0bamariggingamerica; alinskygovernment; benghazi; bhofascism; cincinnati; communism; communistjarrett; corruption; crackhead0bama; criminalgovernment; criminalpresident; democrats; fastandfurious; gettherope; govtabuse; highcrimes; hofacre; impeachnow; irs; irsbrownshirts; irsscandal; irsscandals; jarrett; loislerner; marxism; maybealittleblow; obama; obamaagenda; obamascandals; rapeofliberty; snortingasbenghazi; ssnortingbenghazi; teaparty; tyranny; valeriejarrett; waronliberty
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To: BreezyDog

Sorry “journalist”


61 posted on 06/09/2013 9:18:23 AM PDT by BreezyDog
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To: tumblindice

.
.

“She’s one strange-looking woman.
Valerie and the Reptoids. Great name for a Star Wars cantina band.”

— tumblindmice

If “beauty” is only skin deep - the Valerie Jarrett is a prime example of “ugly” going all the way to the bone!

.
.


62 posted on 06/09/2013 9:31:51 AM PDT by devolve
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To: central_va

..with a name like “Carter”


63 posted on 06/09/2013 10:02:00 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Marx smelled bad & lived with his parents most his life.)
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To: TArcher

If I saw that b*tch in person holding up that sign, I would not hesitate for a second to knock her the hell out and I would not give one rats ass about going to jai. All her heroes kill cops? Fine, all my heroes beat the shit out of subhuman pieces of pig slime who celebrate cop killers.


64 posted on 06/09/2013 10:07:00 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Someday our schools will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
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To: SeekAndFind

When does the marching start? When does the counter-putch start? When does the resistance start? Who is leading it?


65 posted on 06/09/2013 10:28:03 AM PDT by FlyingEagle
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To: UCANSEE2
Is it me, or does it seem like Obambi has a thing for putting socialist/communist women in positions of power? If not for their political persuasions, I would actually give him kudos for such placement, but they are all extreme leftists.

Anyone got a list of the commie feminist whackjobs in high positions in his so-called administration? Makes me kinda wonder about Obambi's manhood, including the effeminate Kerry for SOS. Surprised he hasn't put some leftist affirmative action female general or admiral in the Joint Chiefs.

In case some missed my point above about "kudos", I believe Margaret Thatcher to be the most influential and powerful woman of the 20th century. I miss her and her comrade in arms, Ronald Reagan. Those were the days of American glory.

66 posted on 06/09/2013 11:06:33 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: A Navy Vet

I believe this is all part of a long term plan by (pick one) DNC/Communists/Socialists to infiltrate and occupy Federal (and State) positions of power with those who can be easily blackmailed and controlled. They are so lacking in ability that they become loyal slaves to the man who appoints them.

It has been going on for a long time, I am sure, but I became aware of it (and it seemed to greatly expand) during the CLINTON Presidency.


67 posted on 06/09/2013 11:30:56 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: Ann Archy; dandiegirl; fulltlt
Was it Valerie Jarrett or Obama who said "we will Reward our Friends and PUNISH our enemies"??

ACTUALLY.... it was BOTH OF THEM.

OBAMA - "We are going to punish our enemies and reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us." (univision radio interview 2010)

JARRETT - "For those who supported us, there will be rewards, for the ones who opposed us, they will get what they deserve. There will be hell to pay."

68 posted on 06/09/2013 11:40:45 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: A Navy Vet
Surprised he hasn't put some leftist affirmative action female general or admiral in the Joint Chiefs.

Don't think it isn't being considered.

Air Force puts female 2-star general in charge of reorganized sexual abuse prevention office

69 posted on 06/09/2013 11:46:49 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: UCANSEE2

That needs to be put on EVERY thread...PLEASE!! REMIND everyone.


70 posted on 06/09/2013 1:39:47 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: dandiegirl

71 posted on 06/09/2013 2:30:56 PM PDT by 4Liberty (Some on our "Roads & Bridges" head to the beach. Others head to their offices, farms, libraries....)
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To: Ann Archy
That needs to be put on EVERY thread.

Well, if you notice the post after yours, I'm not the only one that remembers (at least the Valerie speech. Many may not remember that Obama said much the same, unless they watch Univision)

72 posted on 06/09/2013 3:39:12 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: 4Liberty

THAT ALSO needs to be put on EVERY THREAD!!! And tell freepers to READ it.....I looked at it but didn’t READ it....it’s CHILLING!!!! SHE IS EVIL.


73 posted on 06/09/2013 4:14:59 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

Why don’t they put Valerie Jarrett on the stand and ask her what she meant by this. Then put BO on the stand and ask him what he meant when he said “we are going to punish our enemies” Seems simple to me.


74 posted on 06/09/2013 5:42:41 PM PDT by dandiegirl
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To: dandiegirl
Why don’t they put Valerie Jarrett on the stand ...

They would like to continue breathing.

75 posted on 06/09/2013 6:15:36 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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