IRS chief: Inappropriate screening was broad

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

The Internal Revenue Service's screening of groups seeking tax-exempt status was broader and lasted longer than has been previously disclosed, the new head of the agency said Monday.

In a conference call with reporters, Danny Werfel said that after becoming acting IRS chief last month, he discovered wide-ranging and improper terms on lists screeners were still using to choose groups for careful examinations. He did not specify what terms were on the lists, but said he suspended the use of all such lists immediately.

"There was a wide-ranging set of categories and cases that spanned a broad spectrum" on the lists, Werfel said. He added that his aides found those lists contained "inappropriate criteria that was in use."

Werfel's comments suggest the IRS may have been targeting groups other than tea party and other conservative organizations for tough examinations to see if they qualify. The agency has been under fire since last month for targeting those groups.

His comments also indicate that the use of inappropriate terms on such lists lasted longer than has been revealed previously. A report last month by a Treasury Department inspector general said agency officials abolished targeting of conservative groups with those lists in May 2012.

Werfel said preliminary results of an examination he has conducted of his agency have so far found no indication of improper screening beyond the IRS offices that examines groups seeking tax-exempt status.

He said he believes there was "insufficient action" by IRS managers to prevent and disclose the problem involving the screening of certain groups, but has discovered no specific clues of misconduct.

"We have not found evidence of intentional wrongdoing by anyone in the IRS or involvement in these matters by anyone outside the IRS," he told reporters.

________

 

Who screens the screeners?

[Valin]

The Hill: IRS chief: Agency improperly screened groups until last month

Bernie Becker

06/24/13

 

The acting head of the IRS said Monday that the agency was still giving improper scrutiny to groups seeking tax-exempt status when he arrived in May, suggesting that the probe into the IRSs treatment of conservative groups could widen.

 

Danny Werfel, the acting chief, said that the IRS division overseeing tax-exempt applications used other be on the lookout lists as they tried to flag cases that needed more attention.

 

The so-called BOLO list has proven to be a key detail in the current investigation over the IRSs singling out of conservative groups, with agency officials searching for groups with the name Tea Party, patriots and 9/12.

 

In a Monday conference call, Werfel gave little detail about the ideology or interests of groups receiving additional scrutiny, though he added that the IRS hopes to circulate more information soon after it takes more steps to protect confidential information.

 

(Snip)

[NCTexan]

Werfel gave little detail about the ideology or interests of groups receiving additional scrutiny,

 

I'm sure that the selection of those on the list was strictly random.

 

 

Only thing missing from the testimony was "We deeply regret being caught!"