Taxpayers Are Pressured To Keep Good Records Meanwhile, The IRS Loses Lerner's Emails
Taxpayers Are Pressured To Keep Good Records
Meanwhile, The IRS Loses Lerner's Emails
Meanwhile, The IRS Loses Lerner's Emails
The IRS—remember those jaunty folks?—announced Friday that it can't find two years of emails from Lois Lerner to the Departments of Justice or Treasury. And none to the White House or Democrats on Capitol Hill. An agency spokesman blames a computer crash.
Updated July 16, 2014 8:06 p.m. ET
Justice Department Investigates Lost IRS Emails
Testimony by Deputy Attorney General, Scheduled for Thursday, Underscores Potential Seriousness of Missing Information
The Justice Department is investigating the loss of Internal Revenue Service emails that might shed light on the agency's treatment of conservative groups.
As part of its criminal probe into the IRS's treatment of politically active conservative groups, the Justice Department is "investigating the circumstances of the lost emails from [former IRS official Lois Lerner's] computer," according to prepared testimony by James Cole, the deputy attorney general. Mr. Cole is set to appear at a hearing scheduled for Thursday before a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee.
Ms. Lerner, now retired, headed the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations. Republicans in Congress say she is a central figure in the IRS's alleged targeting of conservative tea-party groups for lengthy delays and intrusive scrutiny as they sought tax-exempt status, starting in early 2010. They also believe she had a hand in encouraging the agency to give unfavorable treatment to other, larger conservative groups. Democrats say that some liberal groups were also scrutinized, and that the overall controversy has been overblown to score political points against the Obama administration.
Mr. Cole's comments underscore the potential seriousness of the recently disclosed email loss, which has roiled congressional probes of the matter and angered some top GOP lawmakers. His testimony also could indicate that administration officials sense political vulnerability on the issue.
The IRS has blamed the loss on a crash of Ms. Lerner's hard drive,a common occurrence at the agency, officials say. They add a backup tape also was routinely recycled after six months.
Ms. Lerner's attorney, William Taylor III, declined to comment on Wednesday. Earlier this month, he said: "The facts are that Ms. Lerner did not destroy any records subject to the Federal Records Act, she did not cause the computer assigned to her to fail, and she made every effort to recover the files on the computer."
Ms. Lerner has declined to answer questions before the oversight panel, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Lawmakers contend that she waived her privilege, and the House voted in May to hold her in contempt of Congress. Ms. Lerner and her lawyer have denied that she did anything improper.
Some Republicans regard the timing of the email loss in 2011 as suspicious, noting that it came just days after Republicans began questioning the agency's treatment of politically active conservative donors and groups. They also are unhappy that the IRS and the Obama administration waited weeks before disclosing the email loss to Congress in June. Congressional Republicans have been looking into the IRS targeting controversy since an inspector general's report on the problem in May 2013, and demanded all of Ms. Lerner's emails as far back as last year.
Republicans also want to know more about an instant messaging system IRS officials used. In a recently disclosed email from 2013, Ms. Lerner said she had warned colleagues to be cautious about what they say in emails, given past congressional inquiries. She asked an information technology executive whether instant messages also were searchable.
GOP lawmakers have questioned the Justice Department's response to the controversy, noting that the agency announced it was conducting a criminal investigation days after the scandal broke in 2013, but has produced no charges so far.
Republican lawmakers also have criticized the fact that Ms. Lerner gave a full interview to the Justice Department, while declining to answer lawmakers' questions.
Lawmakers doubt that the Justice Department will seek charges against Ms. Lerner in the contempt matter. Lawmakers contend Ms. Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment privilege by making a statement asserting her innocence at a hearing last year, an argument that some legal scholars question.
"Finally, someone in the administration admits that the destruction of two years of emails from Lois Lerner is fishy," said Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the chairman of the subcommittee that is holding Thursday's hearing. He repeated Republican calls for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor.
Mr. Cole's testimony says that when the department's investigation is finished, it will "provide Congress with detailed information about the facts we uncovered and the conclusions we reached in this matter."
Democrats on the committee distributed a memo rebutting GOP charges against the Justice Department—for example, that it has let politics skew its handling of the matter. Democrats say there is no evidence to support those claims.
------------
June 20, 2014
Investigation of IRS Targeting (CSPAN Video)
Updated July 16, 2014 8:06 p.m. ET
Justice Department Investigates Lost IRS Emails
Testimony by Deputy Attorney General, Scheduled for Thursday, Underscores Potential Seriousness of Missing Information
The Justice Department is investigating the loss of Internal Revenue Service emails that might shed light on the agency's treatment of conservative groups.
As part of its criminal probe into the IRS's treatment of politically active conservative groups, the Justice Department is "investigating the circumstances of the lost emails from [former IRS official Lois Lerner's] computer," according to prepared testimony by James Cole, the deputy attorney general. Mr. Cole is set to appear at a hearing scheduled for Thursday before a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee.
Ms. Lerner, now retired, headed the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations. Republicans in Congress say she is a central figure in the IRS's alleged targeting of conservative tea-party groups for lengthy delays and intrusive scrutiny as they sought tax-exempt status, starting in early 2010. They also believe she had a hand in encouraging the agency to give unfavorable treatment to other, larger conservative groups. Democrats say that some liberal groups were also scrutinized, and that the overall controversy has been overblown to score political points against the Obama administration.
Mr. Cole's comments underscore the potential seriousness of the recently disclosed email loss, which has roiled congressional probes of the matter and angered some top GOP lawmakers. His testimony also could indicate that administration officials sense political vulnerability on the issue.
The IRS has blamed the loss on a crash of Ms. Lerner's hard drive,a common occurrence at the agency, officials say. They add a backup tape also was routinely recycled after six months.
Ms. Lerner's attorney, William Taylor III, declined to comment on Wednesday. Earlier this month, he said: "The facts are that Ms. Lerner did not destroy any records subject to the Federal Records Act, she did not cause the computer assigned to her to fail, and she made every effort to recover the files on the computer."
Ms. Lerner has declined to answer questions before the oversight panel, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Lawmakers contend that she waived her privilege, and the House voted in May to hold her in contempt of Congress. Ms. Lerner and her lawyer have denied that she did anything improper.
Some Republicans regard the timing of the email loss in 2011 as suspicious, noting that it came just days after Republicans began questioning the agency's treatment of politically active conservative donors and groups. They also are unhappy that the IRS and the Obama administration waited weeks before disclosing the email loss to Congress in June. Congressional Republicans have been looking into the IRS targeting controversy since an inspector general's report on the problem in May 2013, and demanded all of Ms. Lerner's emails as far back as last year.
Republicans also want to know more about an instant messaging system IRS officials used. In a recently disclosed email from 2013, Ms. Lerner said she had warned colleagues to be cautious about what they say in emails, given past congressional inquiries. She asked an information technology executive whether instant messages also were searchable.
GOP lawmakers have questioned the Justice Department's response to the controversy, noting that the agency announced it was conducting a criminal investigation days after the scandal broke in 2013, but has produced no charges so far.
Republican lawmakers also have criticized the fact that Ms. Lerner gave a full interview to the Justice Department, while declining to answer lawmakers' questions.
Lawmakers doubt that the Justice Department will seek charges against Ms. Lerner in the contempt matter. Lawmakers contend Ms. Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment privilege by making a statement asserting her innocence at a hearing last year, an argument that some legal scholars question.
"Finally, someone in the administration admits that the destruction of two years of emails from Lois Lerner is fishy," said Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the chairman of the subcommittee that is holding Thursday's hearing. He repeated Republican calls for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor.
Mr. Cole's testimony says that when the department's investigation is finished, it will "provide Congress with detailed information about the facts we uncovered and the conclusions we reached in this matter."
Democrats on the committee distributed a memo rebutting GOP charges against the Justice Department—for example, that it has let politics skew its handling of the matter. Democrats say there is no evidence to support those claims.
------------
June 20, 2014
Investigation of IRS Targeting (CSPAN Video)
-----------
Never underestimate government incompetence, but how convenient. The former IRS Director of Exempt Organizations was at the center of the IRS targeting of conservative groups and still won't testify before Congress. Now we'll never know whose orders she was following, or what directions she was giving. If the Reagan White House had ever offered up this excuse, John Dingell would have held the entire government in contempt.
Never underestimate government incompetence, but how convenient. The former IRS Director of Exempt Organizations was at the center of the IRS targeting of conservative groups and still won't testify before Congress. Now we'll never know whose orders she was following, or what directions she was giving. If the Reagan White House had ever offered up this excuse, John Dingell would have held the entire government in contempt.
How out of bounds was this data dump? Consider the usual procedure. The IRS is charged with granting tax-exempt status to social-welfare organizations that spend less than 50% of their resources on politics. If the IRS believes a group has violated those rules, it can assign an agent to investigate and revoke its tax-exempt status. This routinely happens and isn't a criminal offense.
Ms. Lerner, by contrast, shipped a database of 12,000 nonprofit tax returns to the FBI, the investigating agency for Justice's Criminal Division. The IRS, in other words, was inviting Justice to engage in a fishing expedition, and inviting people not even licensed to fish in that pond. The Criminal Division (rather than the Tax Division) investigates and prosecutes under the Internal Revenue Code only when the crimes involve IRS personnel.
The Criminal Division knows this, which explains why the emails show that Ms. Lerner was meeting to discuss the possibility of using different statutes, specifically campaign-finance laws, to prosecute nonprofits. A separate email from September 2010 shows Jack Smith, the head of Justice's Public Integrity Unit (part of the Criminal Division) musing over whether Justice might instead "ever charge a 371" against nonprofits. A "371" refers to a section of the U.S. Code that allows prosecutors to broadly claim a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. You know, conspiracies like exercising the right to free political speech.
The IRS has admitted that this database included confidential taxpayer information—including donor details—for at least 33 nonprofits. The IRS claims this was inadvertent, and Justice says neither it nor the FBI used any information for any "investigative purpose." This blasé attitude is astonishing given the law on confidential taxpayer information was created to prevent federal agencies from misusing the information. News of this release alone ought to cause IRS heads to roll.
The latest revelations are a further refutation of Ms. Lerner's claim that the IRS targeting trickled up from underlings in the Cincinnati office. And they strongly add to the evidence that the IRS and Justice were motivated to target by the frequent calls for action by the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats.
One email from September 21, 2010 shows Sarah Hall Ingram, a senior IRS official, thanking the IRS media team for their work with a New York Times reporter on an article about nonprofits in elections. "I do think it came out pretty well," she writes, in an email that was also sent to Ms. Lerner. "The 'secret donor' theme will continue—see Obama salvo and today's [radio interview with House Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen ]."
And it's no surprise to learn that Justice's renewed interest in investigating nonprofits in early 2013 immediately followed a hearing by Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in which he dragged in officials from Justice and the IRS and demanded action.
It somehow took a year for the IRS to locate these Lerner exchanges with Justice, though they were clearly subject to Mr. Issa's original subpoenas. The Oversight Committee had to subpoena Justice to obtain them, and it only knew to do that after it was tipped to the correspondence by discoveries from the watchdog group Judicial Watch. Justice continues to drag its feet in offering up witnesses and documents. And now we have the two years of emails that have simply vanished into the government ether.
Monty Henry, Owner
Additional Resources:
Number of Americans Renouncing Citizenship Surges To Escape Oppressive Tax Rules
Dropping Off The Grid: A Growing Movement In America: Part I
Online Privacy Tools and Tips
What is BitCoin and How Does It Work?
The Creature From Jekyll Island: This Blog And Video Playlist Explains Why The U.S. Financial System is Corrupt and How It Came To Be That Way
Next-Generation Bug / Microwave / ELF / Spy Phone / GSM And Camera Detectors (Buy, Rent, Layaway) tinyurl.com/2eo8mlz Open...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)
Nanny IP (Internet) Cameras, GPS Trackers, Bug Detectors and Listening Devices, etc, (Buy / Rent / Layaway): tinyurl.com/396jlw6...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)
NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA.
Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.
NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA: http://www.dpl-surveillance-equipment.com/wireless_hidden_cameras.html
Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.
• Remote Video Access
• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)
• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)
• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet
• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)
• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)
• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!
Includes:
* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver
FACT SHEET: HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS
Specifications:
Receiver Specs:
* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD
Camera Specs:
* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking
• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)
• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)
• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet
• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)
• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)
• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!
Includes:
* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver
FACT SHEET: HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS
Specifications:
Receiver Specs:
* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD
Camera Specs:
* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking
Make Your Own Nanny Cameras: Make Tons Of Money In A Booming, Nearly Recession-Proof Industry!
Your Primary Customers Include But Are Not Limited To Anyone In The Private Investigator, Government, Law Enforcement And/Or Intelligence Agencies Fields!
* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)
* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)
Our New Layaway Plan Adds Convenience For Online Shoppers
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
layaway plan makes it easy for you to buy the products and services
that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments
that you set. Our intuitive calculator allows you to break down your
order's purchase price into smaller payment amounts. Payments can be
automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using
MoneyGram® ExpressPayment® Services and you will receive your order once
it's paid in full. Use it to plan and budget for holiday purchases,
anniversaries, birthdays, vacations and more!
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
Customers can now use the convenience of layaway online to help them
get through these tough economic times.
We all shop now
and then just to face a hard reality -- big credit card bills. However,
our latest financing innovation can help you avoid that. Find out why
more and more shoppers are checking out DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
e-layaway plan.
If you're drooling over a new nanny
camera, longing for a GPS tracker, or wishing for that spy watch, but
you're strapped for cash and can't afford to do credit, do what Jennie
Kheen did. She bought her iPod docking station (hidden camera
w/motion-activated DVR) online using our convenient lay-away plan.
Our
online layaway plan works like the old-fashioned service stores used to
offer. But, in Kheen's case, she went to
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com, found the iPod docking station (hidden
camera w/motion-activated DVR), then set up a payment plan.
"It's automatically drawn from my account," she said. "I have a budget, $208.00 a month.
In
three months, Kheen had paid off the $650.00 iPod docking station. She
paid another 3.9 percent service fee, which amounted to about $25.35
(plus $12.00 for shipping) for a total of $687.35.
"You
pay a little bit each month," Kheen said. "It's paid off when you get
it and you don't have it lingering over your head. It's great."
Flexible
payment terms and automated payments make our layaway plan an
affordable and fiscally responsible alternative to credit cards.
1. Register:
It's quick, easy and FREE! No credit check required!
2. Shop:
Select
the items or service you want and choose "e-layaway" as your payment
option. Our payment calculator makes it easy for you to set up your
payment terms.
3. Make Payments:
Payments are made on the schedule YOU set. Check your order status or adjust your payments online in a secure environment.
4. Receive Products:
Receive the product shortly after your last payment. The best part, it's paid in full... NO DEBT.
More Buying Power:
*
Our lay-away plan offers a safe and affordable payment alternative
without tying up your credit or subjecting the purchase to high-interest
credit card fees.
No Credit Checks or Special Qualifications:
* Anyone 18 years old or older can join. All you need is an active bank account.
Freedom From Credit Cards:
*
If you are near or beyond your credit limit or simply want to avoid
high interest credit card fees, our e-layaway is the smart choice for
you.
Flexible Payment Schedules:
*
Similar to traditional layaway, e-layaway lets you make regular payments
towards merchandise, with delivery upon payment in full. Payments are
automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using
MoneyGram® ExpressPayment®
A Tool for Planning Ahead:
*
Our e-layaway makes it easy for smart shoppers like you to plan ahead
and buy items such as bug detectors, nanny cameras, audio bugs, gps
trackers, and more!
No Hidden Charges or Mounting Interest:
Our
e-layaway makes shopping painless by eliminating hidden charges and
monthly interest fees. Our customers pay a flat transaction fee on the
initial purchase price.
NO RISK:
* You have the right to cancel any purchase and will receive a refund less a cancellation fee. See website for details.
Security and Identity Protection:
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment
has partnered with trusted experts like McAfee and IDology to ensure
the security and integrity of every transaction. Identity verification
measures are integrated into our e-layaway system to prevent fraudulent
purchases.
Note: Simply Choose e-Lay-Away as a "Payment Option" in The Shopping Cart
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
is a world leader in providing surveillance and security products and
services to Government, Law Enforcement, Private Investigators, small
and large companies worldwide. We have one of the largest varieties of
state-of-the-art surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment
including Personal Protection
and Bug Detection Products.
Buy, rent or lease the same
state-of-the-art surveillance and security equipment Detectives, PI's,
the CIA and FBI use. Take back control!
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE
Twitter
DPLSURVE
MSN
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32
Skype
Montyl32
Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32
Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com
Join my Yahoo Group!
My RSS Feed
Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE
DPLSURVE
MSN
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32
Skype
Montyl32
Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32
Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com
Join my Yahoo Group!
My RSS Feed
posted by DPL-Surveillance-Equipment | 9:15 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
<< Home