{"id":19329,"date":"2014-05-16T09:18:37","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T14:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/?p=19329"},"modified":"2015-01-10T05:39:51","modified_gmt":"2015-01-10T10:39:51","slug":"michigans-representative-carl-levin-targeted-conservatives-in-irs-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/2014\/05\/michigans-representative-carl-levin-targeted-conservatives-in-irs-scandal\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan’s Representative Carl Levin Targeted Conservatives in IRS Scandal – UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

When the IRS targeting scandal broke last year,<\/strong> officials in Washington attempted to cast the blame for its targeting of conservative groups on an IRS regional office in Cincinnati. \u00a0The IRS used glaring orange and yellow warning labels on files related to select conservative issues of concern for \u201ctea party\u201d organizations.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now the scandal, which led to a charge of \u201ccontempt of Congress\u201d for former IRS official Lois Lerner who blocked the investigation, has reached into Michigan. \u00a0Letters just released show that Democratic Senator Carl Levin pressured the IRS<\/strong> to employ greater scrutiny for conservative groups seeking a favorable 501(c)(4) tax status from the government.<\/p>\n

An email from Lois Lerner<\/strong> which was also just released explains how BOLO (be on the look out) lists were used to flag tea party groups or groups with issues related to government spending, debt, taxes and \u201chow the country is being run.\u201d<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 \u00a0 * \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0* \u00a0 \u00a0 * \u00a0 \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Frank Beckmann, host of a popular talk show<\/strong> on Detroit\u2019s News\/Talk 760 WJR<\/a>, updates the scandal story, explaining Levin\u2019s involvement, in an op ed column in today\u2019s Detroit News<\/a>. \u00a0Beckmann describes an interview on his show with Ramona Cotca, senior attorney for the conservative watchdog organization Judicial Watch:<\/p>\n

Levin\u2019s first letter \u2014 dated March 30, 2012, 7 months before that year\u2019s presidential election \u2014 was directed to then-IRS commissioner Douglas Shulman and emphasized the \u201curgency\u201d of tackling the issue of possible political activity by nonprofit applicants.<\/em><\/p>\n

Levin, who has announced his retirement at the end of his current term, didn\u2019t explain why the issue was so urgent but he demanded information within three weeks on whether the IRS was \u201cseeking any information about political activities, and how the IRS determines whether and when to send that questionnaire.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

To make matters worse, Judicial Watch Senior Attorney Ramona Cotca said on my WJR radio show that Levin\u2019s letters cited 10 organizations for special attention.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nine were on the conservative side of the aisle.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Beckmann added that<\/p>\n

Levin, who has announced his retirement at the end of his current term, didn\u2019t explain why the issue was so urgent but he demanded information within three weeks on whether the IRS was \u201cseeking any information about political activities, and how the IRS determines whether and when to send that questionnaire.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Senator Levin\u2019s involvement in the illegal targeting has been confirmed in letters obtained under court order by\u00a0Judicial Watch<\/a>:<\/p>\n

A series of letters between\u00a0Senator Levin (D-MI),\u00a0chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations, and top IRS officials throughout 2012 discuss how to target conservative groups the senator claimed were \u201cengaged in political activities.\u201d In response to a Levin March 30 letter citing the \u201curgency of the issue,\u201d then-Deputy Commissioner Steven Miller assured the senator that IRS regulations were flexible enough to allow IRS agents to \u201cprepare individualized questions and requests\u201d for select 501(c)(4) organizations.<\/em><\/p>\n

The newly released IRS documents contain several letters and emails revealing an intense effort by Levin and IRS officials to determine what, if any, existing IRS policies could be used to revoke the nonprofit exemptions of active conservative groups and deny exemptions to new applicants. In a\u00a0July 30, 2012,\u00a0letter, Levin singles out 12 groups he wants investigated for \u201cpolitical activity.\u201d Of the groups \u2013 which include the Club for Growth, Americans for Tax Reform, the 60 Plus Association, and the Susan B. Anthony List \u2013 only one, Priorities USA, is notably left-leaning.<\/em><\/p>\n

As the 2012 presidential election drew nearer, Levin sent a series of letters to the IRS intensifying his campaign against predominantly conservative nonprofit groups:<\/em><\/p>\n