Posted on 05/23/2013 4:32:59 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
See for yourself. Issa’s committee was told last year that the report would be ready in September, two months before the election. Eight months later, the bomb finally dropped. Why? Did the IG initially underestimate the volume of malfeasance and how long it would take to dig it up? Or are there other, more cynical reasons?
Even if the report wasn’t ready, Issa claims the IG had a statutory obligation to keep Congress updated on its findings as they were made. He didn’t. Why not?
Issa is referring to part of the Inspector General Act that requires watchdogs to report serious problems to Congress through the head of an agency within seven days. It’s known as the “seven-day rule” — but it’s often used sparingly.
The Oversight Committee asked the inspector general about conservative group targeting a number of times, and Issa read some of the emails in the hearing Wednesday.
George also raised concerns that incremental information provided to lawmakers would ultimately leak to the public.
“That is not fair to the people we are investigating,” George said.
Issa responded that the White House is the source of plenty of leaks as well.
Issa himself said a few days ago that he knew last year “approximately” what would be in the report, but it’s one thing to think you know based on a leak and another for the IG to confirm it with an update. Here’s the real question: Why was George, the IG, reluctant to release “incremental information” when the IRS itself had concluded in May 2012 that its anti-conservative criteria for tax-exempt orgs were FUBAR? Didn’t his office specifically say they’d keep the committee updated? (“We would be happy to provide a status update to the Subcommittee staff and provide a copy of our interim and final reports on the matter when they are issued.”) More from Issa:
‘Just yesterday the committee interviewed Holly Paz, the director of exempt organizations, rulings and agreements, division of the IRS,’ Issa said. ‘While a tremendous amount of attention is centered about the Inspector General’s report, or investigation, the committee has learned from Ms. Paz that she in fact participated in an IRS internal investigation that concluded in May of 2012 – May 3 of 2012 – and found essentially the same thing that Mr. George found more than a year later.’
‘Think about it,’ he continued: ‘For more than a year, the IRS knew that it had inappropriately targeted groups of Americans based on their political beliefs, and without mentioning it, and in fact without honestly answering questions that were the result of this internal investigation.’
We already knew that, more or less, from the results of the IG report itself. Check the timeline on page 13. The media starts picking up reports of tea-party complaints in February 2012, and soon thereafter the director of the exempt organizations puts a halt to IRS demands for more intrusive info from conservative groups. Three months later, in May, they hold a “workshop” providing guidance on tax-exempt groups to its analysts and approv more neutral criteria for scrutinizing applications. That’s probably why Issa’s committee had an inkling at the time — because the IRS itself already knew it had done wrong and was moving to undo it to some extent. And yet no one, including the IG, felt moved to confirm for the committee until this month that yes, “mistakes were made” and it was now safe to tell the public that.
But the election’s over, so it’s safe now.
WTH, SIGIR and SIGAR chief investigators ran to the nearest microphone ever other day and long before any reports were ever released.
Mark Levin is back and explains why Issa and the Rino’s did not want
to hold hearings before the election. After reading this article, he is right on.
Issa could have made a phone call to the IG for an update on the report.
Issa did not make that call. Why didn’t he? Levin explains it.
This Congress doesn’t have the cajones to right the situation we are in.
And the current leadership of the Republican Party and many senior members have been co-opted by the Democrats after years of playing ‘nice’ with them.
This from the same IG who dated Michelle in college
Give us a break!
Can’t be very smart then...
What a difference 6 months makes.
Smart enough not to get in a long time relationship
Nice comeback... :)
Issa is passing the buck. If the IG had an obligation and did not release
the report, why didn’t Issa follow up with a request?
All bluf. All bark and no bite.
When the cameras stop and their behind close doors ... they all drink the same Kool-Aid!
Looking at his résumé he worked for R congressman and Bush.
Can’t figure out why he didn’t inform congress. Just doesn’t make sense
He seemed to do a complete analysis of the situation considering he had no judicial tools. Couldn’t subpoena or put anyone under oath. AND had to deal with the mole Paz in each meeting Paz reported to Lois What pressure.
Thanks for that information. Guess I’m too cynical today. I’ll try and do better.
Well..... Issa turns out to be the gop-e fox guarding the henhouse.
We know he’s all bark and never bite...
Why the IRS went after the Tea Party instead of establishment republicans
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3022973/posts
And.......
Coburn: Constituents link IRS audits to Mitt Romney donations [our whistleblower side is lit up]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3023043/posts?page=46
This Congress may be the canary in the mine - one must wonder how many of them now fold because they think they see the writing on the wall. Maybe they are confident that Freedom is lost and want to maintain "favored" positions in the aftermath.
Where can I read what Levin said about Issa not making that call
——statutory obligation ——
That is a joke. The treacherous lawless tyrants are not bound by the law. There is no law
When there is no law, there is no law. They are no longer protected by the law.
So what does Levin say?
bttt
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