About That Little “IRS Thing” . . . .
Well, things sometimes move slowly in an investigation. That’s especially true when those in charge seem to be “slow-rolling” things or ignoring blatant wrongdoing.
But not everybody is “marking time”. It seems that we have two different media organizations who are continuing to investigate this possible criminal conspiracy issue. They’ve identified at least one – and likely two – IRS insiders who leaked confidential IRS information about conservative groups to the Administration’s political allies and/or other unauthorized persons. And they’ve also identified at least one of the recipients of this unlawfully disclosed information – who later made it public.
One of these organizations, National Review Online, has identified the individual who unlawfully leaked donor list information for the National Organization for Marriage. This information was used by Romney’s political enemies during the 2012 Presidential campaign.
National Review has not yet publicly disclosed the identity of the IRS source for the leak. However, they have identified the recipient: Matthew Meisel, a former associate of Romney at Bain & Company, who presumably has an axe to grind. Meisel in turn passed this information along to others who were not authorized to receive it – specifically, to the “Human Rights Campaign” – thus making the information public.
The second media organization, the Washington Examiner, has obtained e-mails identifying the individual who leaked tax return information about multiple conservative groups (including the American Future Fund and the American Issues Project) to the Federal Election Commission. This information does not appear to have been used during the 2012 Presidential campaign; however, the disclosure of this information was nonetheless unlawful. And it also raises an interesting question: why would the FEC ask for information regarding groups that had applied for, but not yet received, tax-exempt status?
The Washington Examiner has not publicly identified the specific individuals who received this information. However, they have identified the leak’s source: one each Ms. Lois Lehrner.
If you’re thinking that name rings a bell – you’re right. Lois Lehrner is indeed the former senior official at the IRS who was at or near the center of this controversy from day one.
It’s unclear if the two leaks had the same source. The articles seem to indicate they likely don’t, but until National Review Online identifies the source of the leaks to Meisel, we won’t know that for certain.
If I were Lerner and Meisel – and anyone else directly involved – I think I’d consult with legal counsel pronto. If what’s alleged is correct, they may have some ‘splainin’ to do in court. Unauthorized public disclosure of confidential IRS tax information by anyone appears to be a Federal crime under 26 USC 6103(a). And doing so apparently is a Federal felony.
Stay tuned.
Good ole chicago style politics is all… nothing to see here, and remember to bring out your dead to vote next election!
I’ll be surprised if anything more than Lois Lerner is sacrificed…. No criminal prosecutions…..anyone want a line on that?
Old Tanker: if there was a second leaker, I’m guessing they’ll be hung out to dry as well now that that fact seems to be coming out. Beyond that, who knows?
I am doubting any prosecutions, maybe some terminations….but not much else…after all accepting responsibility as a democrat means something far different than it does for a republican…
I have it on good authority that it’s all George Bush’s fault. Honest, straight from the bozo’s mouth!
RM3(SS)
The second leaker was Karl Rove, I’m sure of it….
That was all against the law?
Oh, Hondo, come on! Do you really expect people who think they’re above the law to obey the law? Do you think they even consider the consequences of what they do, not just to the people they do it to, but to themselves? (OK, that’s bad grammar, but I don’t care.)
Seriously!?!?
Ex-PH2: not really. But they can still be held accountable for breaking the law, whether or not they care about it – and hopefully will be.
@8 Right, I’m hoping they are held as accountable as those responsible for the inactivity at Benghazi or those who approved the implementation of Fast and Furious without adequate controls. Worst case they are held as accountable for their actions as the previous Democratic administration’s attorney general when she accepted responsibility for an ill advised government warrant serving that got about 80 people killed.
These Democrats really know how to hold people accountable for their misdeeds, it makes my heart sing to see their dedication to honesty and principle in action. The Republicans could learn a lot about accepting responsibility for their actions from how the Democrats police their own ranks to keep them free of incompetence and malfeasance….
/sarc
So, after the president ‘s main handler said they would go after their enimies, the presidents appointee to the irs leaks info to the president ‘s election team and then, the president ‘s appointee to the justice department will choose there is nothing to try?
Justice? In Barry’s America?
£¥¢&;/? Right.
Well, if the pattern of congressional investigation, most recently demonstrated through the 9/11 Commission, is anything to go by, any congressional investigation into the IRS will be a complete whitewash with little to no bearing on reality and close to zero reliance on actual true fact.
And we all will continue to limit ourselves to grousing about it while we continue to sit on our hands.
Typical of the corruption that starts with Obummer and filters down thru the administration…
@6. That’s another guy I’d leave in the gutter if I found him there.
Once again, we see The Most Transparent Administration EVEH, in action.
Wake me up when the guilty are in the noose, ready to be hanged.
Unauthorized public disclosure of confidential IRS tax information by anyone appears to be a Federal crime under 26 USC 6103(a). And doing so apparently is a Federal felony.
I’m sure Attorney General Holder will get right on that.
With as many assorted district attorneys, attorney generals, cops, sheriffs, courts and what-have-you’s as there are around the country, you’d think that one of them could find a complainant within their jurisdiction to file charges against someone for something. Guess everybody is waiting for someone else to do it.
OWB, I think that what’s been pointed out so far falls under the jurisdiction of the Feds. So, much as they’d like to, I don’t think that any state-level DA’s, AG’s, cops or sheriffs can find a complainant who is the victim of a state or local level crime. I may be wrong, if so, I’ll stand corrected.
As Malclave said, I’m absolutely sure that Holder will be on it like stink on shit./sarc