Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) requested IRS audit on TPJ on behalf of Delay ally

[RSchewe]

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall

(snip)

The group is question is Texans for Public Justice -- a outfit which had a lot to do with turning up the information about illegal fundraising and money distributions that eventually ended Tom DeLay's reign as Majority Leader.

They got audited by the IRS. And after what was no doubt a lengthy process, they've been cleared.

But why were they audited?

Apparently the IRS audited TPJ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/26/AR2006022601227.html?nav=hcmodule">because the IRS commissioner got a request for an audit from Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX.), a DeLay ally. And who put him up to it? Apparently, a DC lawyer named Barnaby W. Zall, whom the Post identifies as "close to DeLay and his fundraising apparatus."

The whole episode got going when Johnson wrote to then-IRS commissioner Mark W. Everson and told him he had "uncovered some disturbing information" about TPJ and asked Everson to "to report back your findings of each of these investigations directly to me."

more...

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007750.php

[Stephanie]

1. I just read that - astonishing

So a Congressmember can sic the IRS on anybody they want to? Including public watchdog groups?

[Tyler Durden]

2. IOKIYAR.

Just keep repeating it: It's OK If You're A Republican.

[WCGreen]

3. Actually, anyone can sic the IRS on anyone....

If you provide them with proof of a wrong doing...

And they investigate and uncover tax fraud....

the person who does the turning in gets a piece of the money collected as a reward....

Little known fact....

But if it proves frivolous and without merit, well, they just might stick a microscope up your.....

But congress critters should not be using the IRS as a tool...

And shame on the IRS for going for it....

[izzie]

5. I had always read that but did not know it worked.

So the House man had some proof?I did not know that the gov. could just pull files and start going through people they did not like.

[izzie]

4. That is what popped into my mind also.

More and more it is like Nixon hit list thing.

[yellowcanine]

6. "Nothing to see here, folks. Just a little trip down the Nixon memory lane

Move along now.