Based on his comments about the Groups and Catherine on national TV I think Ethics charges are the least of his concerns. He may be immune from some things while running his trap in Congress, when he goes on TV and makes comments that are not true and he took no effort to verify the accusations he shows his true intentions.
She has a clear case of Libel, Slander, defamation of Character, abuse of power, attempted violation of her right to Assemby, petition her government and Freedom of Speech.
Me thinks Elijah could end up flat broke after the Civil suits.
Seems like these senators should be held accountable.
The Seven Senators Who Asked the IRS to “Investigate” Non-profits
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3020866/posts
Michael F. Bennet, U.S. Senator
Al Franken, U.S. Senator
Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator
Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator
Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator
Tom Udall, U.S. Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator
Carl Levin of Michigan did it in writing as well -
check out post 30 - this is earlier than the article from Daily Caller identifying an email with a date of June 2012.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3020866/posts?page=30#30
To: Sacajaweau
It looks like Sen. Shaheen at least is now trying to use the dates of the letters as cover for her involvement, as you surmised. But the timeline suggests she and her colleagues were really trying to get the IRS to resume and amplify their targeting of conservatives which was ongoing in early 2012.
An article here in Foster’s Daily Democrat by Jim Haddadin reports that:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130516/GJNEWS_01/130519429
In the Feb. 16, 2012 letter, Shaheen and other lawmakers urged the IRS to develop new standards to evaluate the activities of so-called “social welfare” organizations...
The same group sent a second letter to former IRS commissioner Douglas H. Shulman in March 2012. ... The senators also called for the IRS to require organizations to document the exact percentage of their undertakings dedicated to “social welfare”.
The parameters were changed once again in January 2012, allowing for IRS workers to once again parse applications based on political beliefs. The new guidelines called for scrutiny of organizations involved in limiting or expanding government, educating people about the constitution or promoting social and economic reforms, according to the report. The practice finally ended in May 2012, when the criteria was revised once again.