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IRS' Lois Lerner gave confidential Tea Party tax info to FEC, violating law

Erod

Erod

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IRS' Lois Lerner gave confidential Tea Party tax info to FEC, violating law | WashingtonExaminer.com

The Internal Revenue Service shared highly confidential tax information of several Tea Party groups in the IRS scandal with the Federal Election Commission, a clear violation of federal law, according to newly obtained emails.

The public watchdog group Judicial Watch told Secrets Thursday that it was former scandal boss Lois Lerner who shared the information on groups including the American Future Fund and the American Issues Project.

The emails obtained by Judicial Watch show that the IRS, which was considering the tax status of the groups, gave the FEC the tax returns of the groups, including income, expenditures and staff pay. The emails also revealed the exact wording of the prying political questions the IRS wanted the groups to reveal, such as their goals and the requests for brochures and ads.
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You can not possibly tell me this was just a little side venture ol' Lois was running on the side. This had to be known about and orchestrated by Obama, Axelrod, etc.

Using the IRS and the JoP as political weapons....is there anything more politically sinister and corrupt than that?
 
Erod said:
IRS' Lois Lerner gave confidential Tea Party tax info to FEC, violating law | WashingtonExaminer.com



You can not possibly tell me this was just a little side venture ol' Lois was running on the side. This had to be known about and orchestrated by Obama, Axelrod, etc.

Using the IRS and the JoP as political weapons....is there anything more politically sinister and corrupt than that?
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Yeah why did George Bush do that?

PolitiFact | IRS targeted liberal groups during Bush years, says Jim McDermott


Bush Used the IRS, FBI, CIA and Secret Service to Go After Opponents -- Where Was the Fox and GOP Outrage? | Alternet
 
Thats pretty damning on Lois Lerner. In fact, that downright caught red handed. The $500 question is....will this DOJ prosecute?
 
I just don't know. If there were concerns about the groups from the IRS, then it seems like the FEC would have been an appropriate place from which to seek guidance on campaign laws and that guidance would probably require the sharing of specific information.
 
Fisher said:
I just don't know. If there were concerns about the groups from the IRS, then it seems like the FEC would have been an appropriate place from which to seek guidance on campaign laws and that guidance would probably require the sharing of specific information.
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Except they're not allowed to do that under the law. Not without a judicial order. At least thats the way the law reads. The FEC looked more like it was on a fishing expedition in lieu of a formal investigation. IRS, just like most other government agencies receive privacy information training annually. They should have known better than this, especially someone like Lerner who's been around a long time.
 
Fishstyx said:
Except they're not allowed to do that under the law. Not without a judicial order. At least thats the way the law reads. The FEC looked more like it was on a fishing expedition in lieu of a formal investigation. IRS, just like most other government agencies receive privacy information training annually. They should have known better than this, especially someone like Lerner who's been around a long time.
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I don't equate sloppy work habits with a vast conspiracy to oppress the masses. Even if she were approaching this under a very jaded lens, which she probably was, I still have yet to see anything that makes me think there was some organized conspiracy other than there are people even in the rank and file of government who let their politics interfere with what should be apolitical jobs. Bureaucrats are human. It evens out in the end. I am sure that there are as many democrats who have been given the cold-shoulder by the DoD as there have been republicans given the talk to the hand in some other part of the gubbermint.
 
Fisher said:
I don't equate sloppy work habits with a vast conspiracy to oppress the masses. Even if she were approaching this under a very jaded lens, which she probably was, I still have yet to see anything that makes me think there was some organized conspiracy other than there are people even in the rank and file of government who let their politics interfere with what should be apolitical jobs. Bureaucrats are human. It evens out in the end. I am sure that there are as many democrats who have been given the cold-shoulder by the DoD as there have been republicans given the talk to the hand in some other part of the gubbermint.
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I don't disagree, not sure if I buy into the whole "conspiracy." I wouldn't be surprised if Obama's staff was involved but Obama himself has proven himself entirely disengaged so doubt he had knowledge of it.

As far as the issue, Lerner should be prosecuted for this. If we don't hold bureaucrats accountable for allowing their politics or whatever to knowingly violate the law, then it will be rampant. I live in this world, apolitical objectivity should be the goal for anyone who works in government.
 
I know one thing we can count on here...

That Obama knew nothing at all about this, and probably just found out about it today when he read the story in the Examiner.


Schulz+I+know+nothing.jpg
 
Fishstyx said:
Thats pretty damning on Lois Lerner. In fact, that downright caught red handed. The $500 question is....will this DOJ prosecute?
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It seems the DoJ does the direct opposite when provided such a choice to go after one of their own. I'm surprised Lerner isn't up for some medal for outstanding public service and is put on a speaking tour worth millions by now.
 
Wiseone said:
Where's the evidence?
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She emailed back 10 minutes later, and said: “I have sent your email out to some of my staff. Will get back to you as soon as I have heard from them.”

According to Judicial Watch, the materials “from the IRS’ files sent from Lerner to the FEC containing detailed, confidential information about the organizations. These include annual tax returns (Forms 990) and request for exempt recognition forms (Form 1024), Articles of Organization and other corporate documents, and correspondence between the nonprofit organizations and the IRS. Under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, it is a felony for an IRS official to disclose either ‘return information or ‘taxpayer return information,’ even to another government agency.”
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Reading, it is very difficult.
 
I suspect that the request by the FEC falls under one of the numerous agency exemptions of Section 6103 where enforcement is involved. There was a written request from the FEC. Lerner didn't initiate this.

Judicial Watch is notorious for being, well, stupid when it comes to understanding laws. It's a secondary effect of being a rightwing factoid site.

I would also note that this matter is only being covered by the rightwing noise machine -- National Review, Breitbart and the usually empty headed megaphones of conservative dreck. I don't see it anywhere else. So the exemption is probably obvious to those who know the law. But Lerner can speak for herself. She's an attorney.
 
Fisher said:
I just don't know. If there were concerns about the groups from the IRS, then it seems like the FEC would have been an appropriate place from which to seek guidance on campaign laws and that guidance would probably require the sharing of specific information.
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The tax status has nothing to do with election laws.
 
head of joaquin said:
I suspect that the request by the FEC falls under one of the numerous agency exemptions of Section 6103 where enforcement is involved. There was a written request from the FEC. Lerner didn't initiate this.

Judicial Watch is notorious for being, well, stupid when it comes to understanding laws. It's a secondary effect of being a rightwing factoid site.

I would also note that this matter is only being covered by the rightwing noise machine -- National Review, Breitbart and the usually empty headed megaphones of conservative dreck. I don't see it anywhere else. So the exemption is probably obvious to those who know the law. But Lerner can speak for herself. She's an attorney.
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You got a link showing that written request?
 
head of joaquin said:
I would also note that this matter is only being covered by the rightwing noise machine -- National Review, Breitbart and the usually empty headed megaphones of conservative dreck. I don't see it anywhere else. So the exemption is probably obvious to those who know the law. But Lerner can speak for herself. She's an attorney.
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When did CNN become part of the "megaphones of the conservative dreck?" :lamo

FEC vice-chair: Email raises questions of improper contact with IRS - CNN.com
 
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