Posted on 10/31/2013 8:16:42 AM PDT by markomalley
A conservative government watchdog says it has obtained emails revealing that the Internal Revenue Service sent conservative groups’ private tax exemption application and tax return information to the Federal Elections Commission, in violation of federal law.
According to Judicial Watch, the emails from Jan. 2009 to the present, provided by the FEC in response to an August 2013 Freedom of Information Act request, yielded a “revealing email chain” between former Internal Revenue Services (IRS) Director of Exempt Organizations Lois Lerner and enforcement attorneys at the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Judicial Watch explains that in one email exchange beginning on Feb 2, 2009, an FEC attorney requests information about the American Future Fund’s (AFF) tax-exempt status from Lerner.
“When we spoke last July, you told us that the American Future Fund had not received an exemption letter from the IRS,” the attorney, whose name is redacted, writes. Later in the email the attorney asks Lerner whether the IRS had granted tax exemption to American Issues Project (AIP) and AIP’s predecessor organizations: Citizens for the Republic (CFTR) and Avenger, Inc. (AIP).
Ten minutes later that same day, Lerner indicated she would cooperate.
“I have sent your email out to some of my staff. Will get back to you as soon as I have heard from them,” she wrote according to Judicial Watch.
The watchdog explained that the FIOA request also uncovered “extensive materials from the IRS’ files sent from Lerner to the FEC containing detailed, confidential information about the organizations.”
“These include annual tax returns (Forms 990) and request for exempt recognition forms (Form 1024), Articles of Organization and other corporate documents, and correspondence between the nonprofit organizations and the IRS. Under Section 6013 of the Internal Revenue Code, it is a felony for an IRS official to disclose either ‘return information’ or ‘taxpayer return information,’ even to another government agency,” Judicial Watch explained.
The IRS has been under fire for targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. The National Review reported in August that Lerner possibly illegally provided information to the FEC. According to Judicial Watch the emails reveal that the coordination between the IRS and FEC was more extensive than initially believed.
Lerner resigned her position at the IRS earlier this month. In May Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent in an appearance before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
“These extensive emails and other materials provide a disturbing window into the activities of two out-of-control federal agencies: the IRS and FEC,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement. “And there is the very real question as to whether these documents evidence a crime.”
Now, I wonder whether or not to even bother posting it.
Gee, just another Obama Regime rights violation. Gee, just another Obama Regime legal violation. Yawn.
Just wait until you complain about your poor health care.
Small wonder that witch took the 5th.
We have no rights under this administration.
The IRS are bad enough, but the Federal Elections Commission sounds about as effective and upstanding as a WWE referee.
As I would have done during her first appearance, I would bring her back in and simply say:
“You have the right to refuse to answer questions. But I’m going to read a chronology of your misdeeds into the official record so they may be used as a tool to prosecute you in future. Of course, you’re free to dispute anything you hear.”
*
With the way the GOP-E are going after Tea Party candidates, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were a part of this whole fiasco. Otherwise, why aren’t the Republicans doing more to investigate. This is coming from Judicial Watch, for crying out loud.
“in violation of federal law”
laws? this admin don’t need no steenkin laws
So doesn’t this give more credence that voter fraud was a huge part of the last election since they were compliant with thos?
Issa should have another of his phony investigations which find out nothing and don’t amount to anything.
We need to fumigate the Congress by voting out every cockroach there.
The Republicans would do exactly this if they had the gonads. Lois Lerner was not hauled back in to Committee because she is female and Republicans did not want to be seen as beating up on one
(lose the female vote)
So what, “What difference does it make now”, who cares. There will be no recourse to the damaged, no penalties to the offenders, but possibly a bonus and promotion.
Speak for yourself. I’m in Congressional District #1 in Texas. We’ve voted in Louie Gohmert and Ted Cruz. If we replace Cornyn next year we have done all we can.
What has come out of any of Issa’s investigations? how many have been fired, demoted, sent to prison? How many have received any restitution or even an apology?
Issa can only bring things into the light of day. He is not a prosecutor.
The one who can prosecute is the corrupt Holder at Justice.
It is far better to know these things and be prepared to prosecute if we ever get DOJ back into competent hands.
Secondly, restitution is up to lawsuits from those harmed. These may yet come. I would love to see a few suits which could allow guilty people to be questioned under oath during discovery.
Issa is doing a lot, possibly all he can do from his position.
That is my point.
Darrell Issa’s investigations are as useless as stink bugs.
He makes a big stink and then goes away.
Is it any wonder that increasing numbers of decent Americans are questioning the legitimacy of the Obama regime and of the election that allowed those crooks to hold power for another four terrible years?
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