KRAMER’S NOTE: This is the last in my series on the IRS scandal, providing you with the milestone events in capsulized form, emphasizing the importance of completing the investigation. The first three in this series can be found in the right column of this page.
The Clear Case Against Lois Lerner
“Tea Party matter very dangerous. This could be the vehicle to go to court on the issue of whether Citizens United overturning the ban on corporate spending applies to tax exempt rules.” – Lois Lerner e-mail of February 1, 2011
Lois Lerner takes Fifth Amendment. (worldmag.com photo)
When Lois Lerner made her second appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 5, 2014, it was Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa’s intention to ask her about this statement. It goes back to her Oct. 19, 2010 declaration that the Supreme Court dealt a huge blow in its decision on Citizens United and “everyone is up in arms because the Federal Election Commission can’t do anything about it.”
Issa opened the testimony session asking Lerner to identify who wanted the problem caused by Citizens United fixed, and “why would you say Tea Party cases are dangerous?” But Lerner, as she did on May 22, 2013, took the Fifth Amendment, refusing to answer that and subsequent questions concerning IRS actions against conservative organizations. Since her first appearance, Issa had obtained a number of 2011 e-mails showing a heightened effort to stymie Tea Party organizations.
Rep. Jim Jordan during House Oversight hearing on the IRS scandal. (Getty images.photo)
House Oversight Committeeman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), writing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, pointed to the political aspect in one of the e-mails showing that Lerner directed a subordinate to focus on issues surrounding the application of Karl Rove’s group, Crossroads GPS.
Lerner also referenced “the fabulously rich and hugely influential” Koch brothers in asserting that the agency needed to cautiously scrutinize groups seeking tax exempt status. There has been no mention of George Soros, who spends millions of dollars in support of Democrats and progressive causes.
Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took to the floor of the Senate on Feb. 27, 2014 to make political remarks, calling the Koch brothers “un-American.”
A June 14, 2012 e-mail to Lerner and others revealed the involvement in the Treasury Department as M. Ruth M. Madrigal of the Office of Tax Policy wrote, “Don’t know who in your organizations is keeping tabs on c4s, but since we mentioned potentially addressing them (off plan) in 2013, I’ve got my radar up and this seemed interesting.” The e-mail contained paragraphs from an election law blog.
You may recall how Rep. Elijah Cummings’ (D-MD) rant after Issa adjourned the session made the news on the liberal-leaning media, while Lerner’s role in targeting Tea Party groups and conservative organizations wasn’t mentioned.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s call for Attorney General Eric Holder to replace Barbara Bosserman as DOJ’s investigator was refused. Cruz effectively put forth the case for conflict of interest. Bosserman was a major contributor to Obama’s campaigns. Cruz pointed out that nobody would have trusted John Mitchell to investigate Richard Nixon.
Be aware that key Democrats continue to pressure the IRS to make it difficult for conservative organizations to carry out political education.
Despite administration stonewalling, it is vitally important that individuals involved in the corrupt activities within the IRS and other agencies are identified and brought to justice.
The Obama administration is painting this as a phony scandal with the hope that you will not take it seriously, and will forget all about it when you go to the polls in November.
