IRS Investigation of Tea Party Not Politically Motivated, DOJ Finds
There were claims that the investigation had political motives.
— -- The Department of Justice said today that it was poor management, not political motivation, that led the IRS to examine the Tea Party, according to a letter the agency sent to Congress.
The DOJ investigation found “no evidence” that the IRS targeted Tea Party tax-exempt applications for audits, and “no evidence” that any official at IRS attempted to obstruct justice.
Former IRS official Lois Lerner, the woman at the center of the controversy, will not be charged, and the criminal probe has been closed.
The decision was revealed in a letter to Congress today from Assistant Attorney General Peter J. Kadzik.
“We found no evidence that any IRS official acted based on political, discriminatory, corrupt or other inappropriate motives that would support a criminal prosecution," the letter said. “We also found no evidence that any official involved in the handling of tax-exempt applications or IRS leadership attempted to obstruct justice.”
This is a developing story. Please check back in for updates.
