The IRS Digs in its Heels [will take "YEARS" to disclose scandal documents]

American Thinker ^ | April 1, 2014 | Jonathon Moseley

[Moseley]

It could take years for Congressional committees to get all the documents demanded about the IRS scandal under mandatory subpoenas, IRS’ new Commissioner John Koskinen testified. The new IRS Commissioner displayed the slippery style of a snake-oil salesman while testifying March 26 before Congressman Darrell Issa’s Committee on Oversight and Government.

Koskinen’s excuses were especially surprising because similar demands for documents are imposed upon private companies all the time by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Your author has worked as a lawyer on teams responding to such massive governmental document requests. Any time there is a merger that raises questions or controversy, a “Second Request” is issued demanding often millions of pages of emails and documents to be delivered to the U.S. Government. It doesn’t take years.

The government – naturally – complains it cannot do what private businesses do. The private sector routinely responds to more-extensive subpoenas to huge corporations in weeks or months with teams of lawyers hired on a temporary basis. There is even specialty software designed for this (several brands) and even a small industry built around it. Some companies will supply the specialized work space along with instant manpower.

The March 26 hearing was delightfully raucous, with one Republican after another exhibiting a pulse and tearing into Koskinen – the former Deputy Mayor of the District of Columbia. Koskinen swatted back smug, evasive non-answers with a smile. The Committee subpoena in February demanded “all” emails from or to various people (on official government email systems) including Lois Lerner. Koskinen repeatedly tried to change the focus from “all” to only those emails and other documents that the IRS might want the Congress to see.

[Moseley]

Congress has been demanding information for over a year. Republicans pointed out that it should take only minutes for a computer to pull all of Lois Lerner’s emails. Koskinen angered committee members by trying to suggest it would take more time – not less – to pull all emails instead of a selected subset. Of course in the computer age, it is easier and faster to copy all emails than to put in the extra work of screening emails according to topics. Committee members were not amused by Koskinen’s tap-dancing, although Koskinen was plainly amused with himself.

However, a dangerous trap by the Obama Administration is being set, which even House Republicans failed to recognize. Christine O’Donnell revealed in February – and Congressional committees have confirmed her report -- that the IRS interprets 26 U.S.C. 6103 as prohibiting the disclosure of IRS misconduct or abuse concerning taxpayer information.

So – cloaked in double-speak – Koskinen effectively announced to Congress that the information Congress is trying to obtain will not be disclosed. Christine O’Donnell exposed that the IRS thinks “6103 information” includes not only a taxpayer’s records but also how IRS personnel mishandled that taxpayer’s records. The IRS plans to redact and withhold from Congress all information about misconduct and abuse by the IRS.

On March 26, Commissioner Koskinen repeatedly emphasized that the IRS is screening all documents to withhold from Congress any “6103 information.” But the IRS argues that “6103 information” includes the very misconduct and abuse by IRS employees which Congress is trying to investigate.

Consider: O’Donnell’s tax records were illegally accessed, according to a Treasury Department inspector general investigator Dennis Martel (who interviewed me earlier on a related issue). So Christine filed a Freedom of Information Act request about herself. The IRS responded that they had three (3) boxes of documents to hand over and would she come get them. Then the IRS called back and said they would not release any documents about her to her because 26 U.S.C. 6103 prohibited it. That’s the same problem Congressman Darrell Issa’s Committee will run into.

[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

Publicly hang them all.

[VRWCarea51]

Seems pretty staight forward to me. Boehner needs to submit legislation eliminating 6103 language and make it a requirement that ALL IRS Officials are obligated by law to release unredacted information to both congressional oversight and the DOJ that are under supena. Failure to do so will result in prosecution with a Minimum sentence of 5 years in club fed if found guilty.

Then call Koskinen up to another Hearing. Ask him if he plans on releasing the information within a week. If he says no, have him arrested and housed in the Basement of the House.

Call a Press conference and state that once the bill passes the house and is sent to the Senate ALL legislation will stop until it is approved by the Senate and signed into Law by Nero.

[MrB]

Maybe they would cough them up if people showed up with “pitchforks” (or the most effective weapon available), torches, tar and feathers.

[Common Sense 101]

ARREST THEM!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tar.
Feathers...

[Colonel_Flagg]

It could take years for Congressional committees to get all the documents demanded about the IRS scandal under mandatory subpoenas, IRS’ new Commissioner John Koskinen testified.

Contempt citations and jail. It's been done before and no one should be exempt. When legitimate oversight is delayed by foot dragging there has to be an immediate consequence.

Unfortunately, that involves John Boehner somehow becoming a vertebrate. So I know, good luck with that.

[listenhillary]

We used to be able to throw people in jail. Who was Clinton’s friend who died in jail?

[precisionshootist]

The good news is it only takes one day of voting to abolish the IRS completely by Constitutional amendment.

[Hotlanta Mike]

Time to man up GOP. The Obama administration is caught in a cover-up of epic political proportions for vote suppression and attacks against First Amendment rights while facilitating left wing groups.

Obama should have to face the real consequences of facing either impeachment or the embarrassment of resigning from office in 2015.

[txrefugee]

Just wait until this scourge of a president leaves office. The blanket amnesties for these government hacks will be rolling out of the Oval Office like a tide.

[MrB]

The bastards will send out armed agents if any of “the people” tried this -

“I’m sorry, I can’t provide the information you require for your audit for about 6 years. I’ll let you know when I get it rounded up.”

[lepton]

Go ahead and do the contempt thing, but be prepared to begin impeachment hearings in December.

[hal ogen]

Probably, Clown Prince nobama will issue blanket pardons to all his anti-Free-America commie asshat minions (including his royal self) if impeachment and arrest draw near.

[tacticalogic]

Justice delayed is justice denied.

[oldtech]

There is a need to announce the proposed hanging a few weeks in advance. Tha will give people time to make travel plans,& also to set up a gallows area that can handle a large attendance.

[ryan71]

We’re seeing Republicans not willing to jail these criminals because some day the shoe will be on the other foot. The entire federal government is a giant pot of criminals protecting criminals.

[drypowder]

those people would get shot dead where they stand by this government

[Democrat_media]

this is just one more example that shows that government is completely unaccountable and must be abolished : abolish the IRS , FDA ,EPA ,NASA , FEC ,FCC, HUD , obamcare, gov schools for starters and then keep going

Obama ordered IRS to rig 2012 election and must resign

[onedoug]

The IRS yields to no one.

No one.