First on CNN: House investigators questioning IRS Cincinnati workers
Washington (CNN) – House investigators are interviewing two front-line Internal Revenue Service employees from the Cincinnati tax exempt office this week in Washington, and plan to interview two others next week, two congressional sources familiar with the investigation tell CNN.
House investigators are hoping these IRS employees will shed light on exactly why tea party and other conservative groups were inappropriately targeted for excess scrutiny when applying for tax exempt status.
The sources would not yet disclose the names of the employees, but CNN has previously reported that House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa requested transcribed interviews with four IRS employees from the Cincinnati tax exempt office: John Shafer, Gary Muthert, Elizabeth Hofacre and Joseph Herr.
Investigators from two committees – House Ways and Means and House Oversight – are teaming up to bring these IRS workers to Washington, D.C. for the interviews.
Last week, Issa revealed they had already interviewed a potentially key IRS worker in the Washington, D.C. office – Holly Paz. Paz is a director in the IRS tax exempt division.
During a hearing with IRS Inspector General J. Russell George, Issa said Paz told his aides she was allowed to sit in on meetings with her employees and inspector general investigators. Issa said that raises questions about the true independence and veracity of the inspector general's audit on tea party targeting.
From CNN Politics
- Pressure builds on Biden to act on guns in wake of Colorado mass shooting March 23, 2021 01:03 pm
- Sidney Powell argues in new court filing that no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims March 23, 2021 12:15 pm
- Postmaster General set to announce 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours March 23, 2021 12:02 pm
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Analysis: Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
Obama's 2nd term is already in the ditch. He needs to get out from under this as quickly as he can otherwise we have a wasted 4 years to look forward to. The country deserves better. We have a whole list of priorites that need attention.
so i see the libs just dont get it. the irs being independent should never target any specific group over another. period. doesnt matter if its targeting only whites, or indians, or pinks or blues. its supposed to be fair and balanced. it cannot be used as a tool of politics. its a scandal that is worse than any other because it was used politically. that is the most arrogant and disgraceful usage of a state office ever. this administration is the most dirty since watergate and the most inept since the carter white house. i find obama to be a lazy president who has no clue how to manage anything. shame on anyone who voted for him. this is shameful and the usa should be embarrassed as such. disgusting. so damn sad.
And now the IRS is going after medical marijuana dispensaries and putting them out of business by not allowing them the usual business deductions. One can only assume that the AG and the president are behind this, given their known hostility to legal marijuana.
Data Driven: It is not alleged when the IRS came out and appologized for their actions.
Data Driven,
Calling it inappropriate is not editorializing when the IRS has said in official statements that it was "inappropriate". There's no "alleged" when the wrongdoer has admitted his wrongdoing. You can just start calling it what it is.
The IRS will be the "enforcer" of Obamacare. No thanks.
rudy, the right to counsel is specific to criminal matters. the IG investigation was not a criminal matter, therefore the 6th amendment wouldn't apply. moreover, although Ms. paz is an attorney, it would most likely be a conflict of interest for her to appear at such an investigatory proceeding as both an irs administrator and as counsel for an individual employee. it would not be appropriate for her to appear in both capacities.