Lois Lerner Email Discusses IRS Criminal Investigation of Targeted Groups

And coordinating with the DoJ and FEC, based on partisan Democrat Sheldon Whitehorse's assertion that Tea Party aligned groups had "lied" on their application forms.

From: Lerner Lois G

Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2013, 5:30 PM

To: Flax Nikole C

Cc: Grant Joseph H; Marks Nancy J

Subject: DOJ call

Importance: High

I got a call today from Richard Pilger Director Elections Crimes Branch at DOJ, I know him from contacts from my days there. He wanted to know who at IRS the DOJ folks could talk to about Sen. Whitehouse idea at the hearing that DOJ could piece together false statement cases about applicants who “lied” on their 1024s –saying they weren’t planning on doing political activity, and then turning around and making large visible political expenditures. DOJ is feeling like it needs to respond, but want to talk to the right folks at IRS to see whether there are impediments from our side and what, if any damage this might do to IRS programs.

Flax responded:

I think we should do it – also need to include CI [Criminal Investigation Division], which we can help coordinate. Also, we need to reach out to FEC. Does it make sense to consider including them in this or keep it separate?"

posted by Ace at 12:28 PM

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