Posted on 04/22/2002 10:00:48 PM PDT by Kay Soze
IRS Official to Judicial Watch: Clinton Enemies Were Audited Carl Limbacher, NewsMax.com
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
An official with the Internal Revenue Service has admitted that legal opponents of former President Bill Clinton were singled out for tax audits, according to court documents made public this week. "What do you expect when you sue the president?" senior IRS official Paul Breslan told Judicial Watch, the Washington-based legal watchdog group that had filed 50-plus legal actions against the Clinton administration and subsequently found itself in the IRS's cross hairs.
Breslan's quote is cited in Judicial Watch's complaint against the tax agency, based on a host of what look to be politically inspired audits that make the worst abuses of the Nixon administration appear puny by comparison.
"There were literally six witnesses in the room when Breslan told us we should have expected an audit," Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman revealed to NewsMax.com. "Four of them were lawyers."
The legal group became the target of an IRS audit in 1998, just four days after it filed an independent impeachment report against Clinton, based on years of investigation into everything from Chinagate to the Paula Jones case.
But Judicial Watch wasn't alone. Witnesses bearing damaging testimony against the president were a favorite target of the Clinton IRS. Those singled out for audits include:
Leak
The Jones case, which would eventually lead to Clinton's impeachment, was of particular interest to the IRS, which apparently leaked her confidential tax returns to the late New York Daily News reporter Lars Erik Nelson.
In a September 1997 column Nelson revealed details from Jones' filing to bolster claims that she was profiting from her sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton.
In a subsequent interview with NewsMax.com's Carl Limbacher (then with the Washington Weekly), Nelson insisted somewhat implausibly that a "friend" of Jones had come across her tax return during a visit to her home and decided to go public with the secrets.
Quite an Enemies List
As the Judicial Watch complaint notes, the Clinton IRS also went after organizations and even media companies it perceived as politically hostile, including:
The National Rifle Association, The Heritage Foundation, The National Review, The American Spectator, Freedom Alliance, National Center for Public Policy Research, American Policy Center, American Cause, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for Honest Government, Progress and Freedom Foundation, Concerned Women for America and the San Diego Chapter of Christian Coalition.
Fox News Channel analyst Bill O'Reilly, a frequent critic of Bill and Hillary Clinton, has also pointed out how the IRS has repeatedly audited him.
The political nature of the Judicial Watch's audit seems particularly blatant.
"The IRS asked for our political affiliations in the first notice of audit," Klayman told NewsMax.
When he questioned why auditors wanted to know about the group's political ties, an IRS district director said the information had been deemed "relevant."
Worse still, each time Judicial Watch seemed to make legal headway against the White House, the IRS ratcheted up the pressure.
"When we would accomplish something big, like the criminal finding by Judge Royce Lamberth against Clinton in the Kathleen Willey Privacy Act case, our lawyers would get a call saying, 'We just want you to know that Judicial Watch is still on the IRS's radar screen,'" Klayman said.
"The same thing happened when we revealed the White House e-mail scandal," he added.
Shockingly, the IRS's intimidation tactics continue into the Bush administration, which has failed to sack Clinton's IRS Commissioner Charles Rosotti.
After Judicial Watch won the release of thousands of pages of documents from Vice President Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force last month, a badge-wearing IRS agent showed up at the group's offices.
A personal meeting between Klayman and Bush Justice Department Criminal Division chief Michael Chertoff, who led the Senate investigation into the Clintons' Whitewater abuses, failed to yield any interest in pursuing IRS abuses, which now threaten to tarnish the Bush administration.
When noted columnist Robert Novak inquired of the Justice Department about Judicial Watch's IRS complaint, he was told by a department official, "I don't know what we are going to do with this Klayman."
"When we were told that we were being audited because we sued Bill Clinton, we had no choice but to stand up and fight in court," Klayman said. "By leaving Charles Rossotti as IRS commissioner, Bush obviously is sending a signal that political audits are fine with him."
Nothings been ruined/new day - join with in me Howlin - help me keep this thread bumped for the next 72 hours. What ya say? I think you and I can provide hundreds of informative bumps for this important thread over the next three days/O.K. :)
Bttt
Not much bothers me, I'll respond - good moring to you again deport/fine day isn't it - it's back to cringing again - join all your pals today...they'll be here sooner or later.
Bttt
Actually, you have been avoiding me...after all, it was to me that you addressed your farewell soliloquy to, and I've simply been honoring your words. Obviously more than you have.
To: Luis Gonzalez
"LAST WARNING" ~~~
***
"I've seen enough - I'll continue to donate each quarter - I'm gone -"
I'll be listening to the show tonight. I know you'll do well on all topics. (hope you polish up though -on Loral/Chinagate)
Sure wish things had worked out with you, me and the attorney for a Loral segment tonight.
Anyway, we're all packed up - moving to another house this weekend - unplugging and packing up computer - tonight- after your show)
Also, no hankies -or fanfare -needed or desired - in any fashion/this is addressed to you only..rofl - but I won't be posting anymore at FR - (will however, continue to donate to all future/quarterly FR fundraisers) - too much hassle from your friend the Admin Mod...looks like he is 'gunning' for me now - so I'll leave on my own and become a valued lurker.
(surprised that you Luis, didn't also get a 'Warning' for your share of namecalling and baiting - anyway - this is my last post - I'll be lurking from time to time - (hope you do a Loral segment sometime) - later....
162 posted on 1/24/02 2:00 PM Eastern by ChaseR
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
So, tell me...did you "not mean" what you posted? Or was that another example of what Rebeckie calls "not an outright lie", or maybe "stretching" the truth?
BTW, we could have done that Loral case show, if I remember right, you wanted me to discuss it with you...a "lawyer" friend of yours, your mom, your third-grade teacher, the guy who cuts your lawn, and your next door neighbor.
You needed a lawyer's help to come on my show and discuss your particular point of expertise?
Now, since you've decided to jump into this discussion, let me set the rules.
Rebeckie and I have been discussing the fact that the headline I posted re: Bush and Ashcroft having rewarded some middle-management INS guy with a promotion...it's a lie, or at the very least, The National Enquirer's version of the truth. Rebeckie was honest enough to admit that that wasn't true, that Bush and Ashcroft had not directly done anything of the sort, in spite of what the headline suggests.
If you are willing to discuss that, I'll be happy to do so. If you are going to start a BAC-type rant about off-discussion topics...have a nice day.
Indeed, Amelia, my sudden loss of freedom has created an enormous void in my life. So, just in order to even cope with it all, I must for now "move on" and try to forget all of the Clintons' petty misdemeanors and infractions. However, I fully intend to return to them and to obsessively savor each and every delusional morsel that I can find after the Judicial Watch audit is completed and all of the evidence becomes available.
To: ChaseR
They have it in your size. Do you like white or gray? I'll even spring for express shipping.
565 posted on 5/9/02 7:01 AM Pacific by Southflanknorthpawsis
***
Now what is going on here is the fact that Southflank has arrived, seen all my casual bumps - and has become irritated at finding these morning bumps. So, what does Southflank do...why - Southflank expresses herself via posting slanderous statements and a pic. Hence, this shows to all readers that Southflank (as is the case -so many times - with all these moveoners ) - they don't answer a 'bump' with post which is what is the norm here at FR...but instead - lash out/cringe because I've added good bumps.
Yes Freedom and FR readers worldwide...see for yourselves - how these moveoners operate when they find themselves at deadends.
Bttt :)
Now calm down, stop cringing Luis, rofl. When you see all these casual bumps- all you need to do is - post something to do with this thread.
(Luis, review my last post- do you see yourself in it...ahh, yes you do don't you, rofl)
[as for my leaving FR - well/changed my mind/I'm back..heheh, aren't you delighted ? - now Luis, let's you and the other moveoners - get back on topic; I'll be bumping/you'll be responding with whatever...now- enjoy all my beneficial bumps over the next three days]
Incorrect little man..rofl. No off topic discussions from me. Too busy right now/but I have and will be *donating* many good bumps. And Luis - review my post #575 -you'll find in this earlier post that I covered the subject of getting off topic. Firstly with Southflank and his pic and his off thread comments and - now with you Luis and your off-thread comments. Stick with this thread Luis, you're looking bad as usual.
Now Luis, I'll be bumping and ...you'll be responding to the bumps -with whatever you desire. Easy, huh. Keep on cringing/I'll be bumping..rofl.
(my needed bumps are all I'll have time for this week Luis/working here at the house on paperwork for my business/but I'm sure you and the other moveoners will enjoy/appreciate them.
Bttt
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