Posted on 05/14/2014 12:17:09 PM PDT by Kaslin
New documents obtained and released through a Judicial Watch lawsuit show the targeting of tea party and conservative groups came directly out of Washington D.C., not a rogue IRS office in Cincinnati.
On July 6, 2012, former Director of the IRS Rulings and Agreements Division and current Manager of Exempt Organizations Guidance Holly Paz sent an email to IRS Attorney Steven Grodnitzky asking for an explanation of how tea party group applications were being handled. Grodnitzky responded by confirming the cases were being handled in Washington.
"EOT is working the Tea party applications in coordination with Cincy. We are developing a few applications here in DC and providing copies of our development letters with the agent to use as examples in the development of their cases. Chip Hull [another lawyer in IRS headquarters] is working these cases in EOT and working with the agent in Cincy, so any communication should include him as well. Because the Tea party applications are the subject of an SCR [Sensitive Case Report], we cannot resolve any of the cases without coordinating with Rob," Grodnitzky wrote.
When the IRS targeting scandal broke last year, officials in Washington immediately pinned the blame on the Cincinnati office. This documentation proves not only that direction was coming out of Washington, but that Washington instructed Cincinnati about how to handle tea party applications.
A new email from Lois Lerner also details how BOLO lists (be on the look out) were specifically created for tea party groups or groups with issues related to government spending, debt, taxes and "how the country is being run."
"Because the BOLO only contained a brief reference to "Organizations involved with the Tea Party movement applying for exemption under 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)" in June 2011, the EO Determinations manager asked the manager of the screening group, John Shafer [IRS Cincinnati field office manager], what criteria were being used to label cases as "tea party " cases. ("Do the applications specify/state ' tea party'? If not, how do we know applicant is involved with the tea party movement?") The screening group manager asked his employees how they were applying the BOLO's short hand reference to "tea party." His employees responded that they were including organizations meeting any of the following criteria as falling within the BOLO's reference to "tea party" organizations: "1. 'Tea Party', 'Patriots' or '9/12 Project' is referenced in the case file. 2. Issues include government spending, government debt and taxes. 3. Educate the public through advocacy/legislative activities to make America a better place to live. 4. Statements in the case file that are critical of the how the country is being run. . . " Lerner wrote on April 2, 2013. "So, we believe we have provided information that shows that no one in EO "developed" the criteria. Rather, staff used their own interpretations of the brief reference to "organizations involved with the Tea Party movement," which was what was on the BOLO list."
Judicial Watch also found the IRS put red and orange alert symbols on tea party issues for heightened awareness. Here are two slides from a "Heightened Awareness Presentation" used at the IRS.
Further, documents show the IRS responded to "intense" requests from Democrat Senator Carl Levin to come down on conservative tax exempt groups in an effort to get rid of them, specifically the groups working against his reelection campaign.
Emails released by Judicial Watch last month show former head of taxpayer groups Lois Lerner was in contact with the Department of Justice about the potential criminal prosecution of conservative groups. In her emails about DOJ, Lerner noted that putting one person from a conservative organization in jail would create and example and "shut the whole thing down."
Praying they find the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back (no serious intent to harm camels - but criminality by a regime to target citizens is another story).
Congress continues to fiddle, while America burns.
It is interesting that “Bolo” is often used to describe a weapon of war.
Lerner not sitting in prison is an injustice to all who were traumatized by the IRS suppression of Tea Party leading into the 2012 election. REPUBLICAN VOTER SUPPRESSION IS WHAT THIS WAS, let’s not forget that!!!
We knew this. The current administration is corrupt. It has used the power of the irs against citizens for its own gain. It has abused the trust given it by the citizens. It has violated the oath of office.
These are impeachable offenses.
/johnny
Democrats are Democrats first. Being an American is way down on their list.
We have two nations within our borders. One nation is The United States of America. These citizens are called “Americans”. The other nation is Democratland. These citizens are called “Democrats”.
Carl Levin should be in jail as well!!
‘One person in jail would shut the whole thing down’ - let it be Lois Lerner! And the Big Empty O himself. Wait, the Big Zero.
I'd be pissed off!!
If no felony indictments result from Obama’s 2012 efforts to knock off political enemies, there really isn't any reason to vote in 2016 or thereafter. Throw in complete NSA surveillance of opponents and it becomes clear that elections will serve to empower an American dictator.
That’s because Klayman really wants to get to the truth.
5.56mm
So, is Judicial Watch the only organization doing their jobs?
Thanks!
RICO
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