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IRS Won't Change Targeting Criteria That Includes Tea Party Groups

IRS Won't Change Targeting Criteria That Includes Tea Party Groups

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen(Getty Images)

By    |   Thursday, 08 September 2016 01:16 PM EDT

The Internal Revenue Service won't alter or remove the targeting criteria that was used to focus scrutiny on tea party organizations.

In June, court documents revealed a list of 426 nonprofit groups that had been singled out for extra scrutiny from 2010 to 2012. Around two-thirds, 282 groups, were conservative. That same month, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to censure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen citing a pattern of conduct "that is incompatible with his duties and inconsistent with the trust and confidence placed in him as an officer of the United States."

Weeks ago, Koskinen issued a letter stating "be on lookout" or BOLO lists would no longer be used, not just suspended.

"There should be no doubt that the use of BOLO lists has not just been temporarily suspended, it has been eliminated," Koskinen's letter reads. It was sent to key government committees, according to The Washington Times.

In early August, a federal appeals court noted that the agency had merely suspended the use of BOLOs, suggesting it wasn't a permanent change, CNN reported.

"Despite all the representations made by the IRS about having changed its ways, it still asserts that the viewpoint-based Targeting Criteria are relevant for making a determination of tax-exempt status," said Edward Greim, a lawyer for tea party groups pursuing a class-action lawsuit in an Ohio district court.

In his filing, Greim asked that the IRS "admit that the Targeting Criteria are irrelevant to determining whether an entity qualifies for tax exemption." The IRS said only "Deny."

Koskinen currently awaits a decision on a possible impeachment vote in the House of Representatives over his role in the scandal. On Wednesday, he met with two House Republican groups. Rep. Bill Flores of Texas told Fox News: "It got a little contentious."

Republicans are reluctant to move forward during the current political season.

"If you were to impeach and dump this right into the Senate, throw it in their hands right before a very contentious election, is that something they want to deal with right now?" Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania told Fox.

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The Internal Revenue Service won't alter or remove the targeting criteria that was used to focus scrutiny on tea party organizations.
targeting, criteria, groups
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2016-16-08
Thursday, 08 September 2016 01:16 PM
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