WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today asked the IRS for details on the agency's move to disclose the targeting of tax-exempt groups for scrutiny and apologize for the targeting at a legal conference, after refusing to fully answer questions about such activity from members of Congress who have been asking about the targeting for more than a year. Grassley also asked for communications on the issue between the IRS and the White House or other organizations.
"An IRS official apologized for activities the IRS previously denied," Grassley said. "She explained the activities in a detailed way. Why now, and why at a conference instead of to Congress? Congress has been asking the same questions. The IRS has to answer for its behavior and its failure to disclose its behavior."
The IRS' screening of tax-exempt groups with certain political leanings came to light on Friday, when the head of the IRS' tax-exempt division disclosed the practice at an American Bar Association conference and apologized for it. The disclosure came days before an inspector general report on the issue is expected to become public.
Key members of Congress have written to the IRS and heard testimony from top IRS officials in denial of the targeting practice over the past year.
The text of Grassley's letter is available here.
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