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 An email exchange released by House Oversight Committee Chairman
Darrell Issa shows the former official, Lois Lerner, asking a
colleague whether communications made through an internal messaging
system can be searched by Congress. Issa said the exchange, culled
from documents provided to Congress last week, showed that Lerner
was "leading an effort to hide information from congressional
inquiries."
The latest accusation prompted heated questioning of IRS
Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing and angry exchanges among a
Democrat and Republicans on the panel.
In the emails, Lerner says she has been telling colleagues to be
cautious about what they say in emails and asks whether internal
messages are subject to the same data transparency rules. Her
colleague replies that even though some messages could be exempt,
they should still be treated as if reviewable.
Republicans have been investigating IRS scrutiny of conservative
groups seeking tax-exempt status since the practice burst into view
in May 2013. That was when Lerner publicly apologized for it at a
conference.
Her unexpected statement triggered the worst crisis at the IRS in
years, with Republicans accusing the agency of singling out
conservative groups, some aligned with the Tea Party, for unfair
treatment. Lerner retired from the IRS in September.
The issue had faded from view until last month when the IRS
acknowledged losing some of Lerner's emails, which Republicans want
for review. Republicans accused the IRS of hiding them and of
obstructing the congressional inquiry.
Democrats, for their part, accused Republicans of rehashing baseless
accusations for political theater in what has come to be known as
the IRS Tea Party targeting affair.
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The IRS reviews the activities of non-profit organizations seeking
exemptions from paying taxes because U.S. law limits their political
involvement. Non-profits have increasingly been used as conduits for
political spending, especially by conservatives.
On Wednesday, several Republican lawmakers on the panel grilled
Koskinen about when the agency would make officials available to
talk about how the emails were misplaced.
Koskinen said he could not do so until an internal investigation is
complete. He also said he had never heard of the internal messaging
system.
Lerner’s questions about internal messages suggest she had something
to hide, Republican Representative Jim Jordan said, prompting an
angry exchange with Gerry Connolly, a Democrat.
Connolly said one interpretation of Lerner’s emails could be that
she understood that internal messages should be treated as
reviewable by Congress.
"You expect us, and more importantly the American people, to believe
that, oh yeah, perfect, now we know we need to save these? That is
the most ridiculous interpretation," Jordan said.
In response, Connolly said: "As a matter of personal privilege, I
would ask that my colleague not question another member as
ridiculous."
(Reporting By Mark Felsenthal)
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