Feds balk at releasing docs showing IRS sharing tax returns with White House

The Washington Examiner ^ | December 3, 2014 | Paul Bedard

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Less than a week after ’fessing up that it found some 2,500 documents potentially showing that the IRS shared taxpayer returns with the White House, the Obama administration has reversed course and won’t release the trove to a group suing for access.

In an abrupt decision, the Treasury inspector general’s office said that the documents are covered by privacy and disclosure laws and can’t be provided to Cause of Action, despite a promise last week to hand over some 2,500.

The decision coincides with publication this week of the Washington Examiner's series, "Watchdogs, lapdogs and attack dogs," that assesses problems with the IG system, including the tendency in some quarters to protect federal officials and agencies from critical scrutiny.

[skeeter]

Of course. The feds are outlaws with badges.

[Red Badger]

WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING BADGES!

[WKUHilltopper]

“... the Obama administration has reversed course and won’t release the trove to a group suing for access...”

That’s because it’s the most transparent administration every in the history of the world. So says the Lyin’ King.

[txrefugee]

The reason these criminals give for breaking the laws regarding tax privacy is that they can’t publish the information they have illegally received from the IRS in the interest of privacy! This is like Alice at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This is clearly lawbreaking at its finest.

[Diogenesis]

This coverup and perversion of Law
by the EXEMPT, for the EXEMPT,
under the guise of “privacy”
(having BROADCAST personal data),
should be smacked down by Judge Sullivan
and those in contempt JAILED.

[detective]

This is very simply an illegal and criminal refusal to comply with a court order.

Those involved should be arrested.

[gaijin]

No one has been held accountable for this incredible volume of criminality so far, so why not..?

[pepsi_junkie]

In an abrupt decision, the Treasury inspector general’s office said that the documents are covered by privacy and disclosure laws and can’t be provided to Cause of Action, despite a promise last week to hand over some 2,500.

So then they are admitting the documents they were given have private taxpayer data on them, in violation of the law.

[Robert357]

As the article says cleaver over-lawyering.

The solution is for the IRS to redact the “privileged information” (i.e. the numbers within the tax forms sent over to the White house), but to include the names of the individuals and all the blank tax forms that they sent over to the White House.

I hope that the judge holds someone in contempt of court or at least gives them a short deadline. Then I hope both a Senate and House oversight committee starts holding hearings on IRS abuses, starting with the Inspector General’s tesitmony.

Please pass the popcorn, the Big Zero is getting in trouble that could even lead to ultimate impeachment.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

When Harry Reid stood on the Senate floor and made allegations about Romneys’ tax returns that Romney had not then released, that was a tacit admission that Reid had participated in a felony, right then and right there. He claimed he had seen the returns he referred to. There is utterly no way that could have occurred without those returns being shared by someone who had access to them.

Now IANAL, so it is possible that Reid has immunity from prosecution but I doubt it means he can’t be subpena’ed if he admits to direct knowledge of a felony. Which is precisely what he did. That this was not pursued is a group mental shortcoming on the part of the GOP, because the evidence is incontrovertible.

And the idea that the whole shebang was not brought to a complete stop on the spot with a felony subpena on Harry Reid was prologue to the utter surrender to the edifice of lawlessness of this admin.

[unixfox]

It is WAY past time for torches and pitch forks.

[pepsionice]

All the judge has to do is bring the guy into court and let him know that he’s got twenty-four hours to comply....then report to some DC jail for the duration. Then go to guy number two and ask him to comply. I’ll bet he rushes back to the office and hands the documents over within an hour.

[joshua c]

Sounds like a confession to me. Lock em up.

[Jacquerie]

Let’s try Article V first.

[tumblindice]

`String `em up!' "Ho ho ho, oh little TEAhobbits, let's not be hasty! You either misunderstand or are too stupid to ... let's wait until you've forgotten all about it." Treeboehner

[TurboZamboni]

“MOST TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION EVER!” - ‘Stretch’ Pelosi

[Red Badger]

It’s quite TRANSPARENT that they are a bunch of criminals.......................

[M Kehoe]

Corruption in the 0bama regime is absolute.

5.56mm