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US tax agency 'not partisan' in screening scandal IRS screening of conservative groups 'not partisan'
(35 minutes later)
The head of the US tax authority and a top treasury investigator have said the extra scrutiny given to conservative political groups was not motivated by partisanship.The head of the US tax authority and a top treasury investigator have said the extra scrutiny given to conservative political groups was not motivated by partisanship.
In a congressional hearing, acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner Steven Miller apologised, saying tax agency staff made "foolish mistakes".In a congressional hearing, acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner Steven Miller apologised, saying tax agency staff made "foolish mistakes".
Mr Miller has resigned over the matter, which has roiled the White House.Mr Miller has resigned over the matter, which has roiled the White House.
President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has denounced the practice as unacceptable.President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has denounced the practice as unacceptable.
He has named Daniel Werfel as acting IRS commissioner, effective from 22 May.He has named Daniel Werfel as acting IRS commissioner, effective from 22 May.
'Need the facts' 'Did not mislead'
Congressmen urged the witnesses to explain why conservative political groups applying for tax-exempt status were asked intrusive questions and had their applications delayed.
Mr Obama's fellow Democrats, meanwhile, urged the committee not to let the inquiry devolve into a political show.
Some lawmakers expressed outraged that in previous hearings, senior figures at the IRS had denied any targeting of conservative groups.
"I did not mislead Congress, nor the American people," Mr Miller told lawmakers. "I answered the questions as they were asked."
Also testifying on Friday was J Russell George, the treasury department inspector general for tax administration, who led the internal inquiry that sparked much of the uproar.Also testifying on Friday was J Russell George, the treasury department inspector general for tax administration, who led the internal inquiry that sparked much of the uproar.
He told the committee that he did not believe the actions by IRS staff were motivated by politics, and said his inquiry had found no suggestion anyone outside the tax agency influenced the actions.
Friday's hearing in the House ways and means committee is the first in a series of Congressional hearings on the matter.Friday's hearing in the House ways and means committee is the first in a series of Congressional hearings on the matter.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has acknowledged that staff members at a branch office in Cincinnati, Ohio, targeted groups filing for tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny if their names included words like "patriot" or "Tea Party" that marked them as conservative.The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has acknowledged that staff members at a branch office in Cincinnati, Ohio, targeted groups filing for tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny if their names included words like "patriot" or "Tea Party" that marked them as conservative.
In some instances, the groups were asked to provide lists of members, volunteers and donors, and their applications for tax-exempt status were delayed.In some instances, the groups were asked to provide lists of members, volunteers and donors, and their applications for tax-exempt status were delayed.
The practice began in 2010 after the US Supreme Court loosened restrictions on political groups' ability to raise and spend money on political campaigns.The practice began in 2010 after the US Supreme Court loosened restrictions on political groups' ability to raise and spend money on political campaigns.
The IRS has described the practice as a bureaucratic shortcut not motivated by political or partisan bias.
Republicans, meanwhile, have expressed outrage. The IRS is an independent agency within the treasury department, and although an internal treasury department inquiry found no evidence the staff members had been pushed by anyone outside the agency, Republicans say they are sceptical.Republicans, meanwhile, have expressed outrage. The IRS is an independent agency within the treasury department, and although an internal treasury department inquiry found no evidence the staff members had been pushed by anyone outside the agency, Republicans say they are sceptical.
"We need to know where the facts are," Republican House Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday. "Somebody made a decision to do this, and I doubt that it was some low-level employees in the Cincinnati field office."
Senior Republicans have also said they will investigate whether IRS officials lied to Congress, for instance by withholding details of the targeting.
In addition to Mr Miller, Joseph Grant, commissioner of the IRS's tax-exempt and government-entities division, said on Thursday that he was stepping down within a month.In addition to Mr Miller, Joseph Grant, commissioner of the IRS's tax-exempt and government-entities division, said on Thursday that he was stepping down within a month.
This week, Attorney General Eric Holder said the FBI had launched a criminal inquiry into the matter.This week, Attorney General Eric Holder said the FBI had launched a criminal inquiry into the matter.
At a news conference on Thursday, Mr Obama said his administration would identify the management lapses that allowed the targeting to occur.
"I think we're going to be able to figure out exactly what happened, who was involved, what went wrong, and we're going to be able to implement steps to fix it," he said.
In addition to Friday's hearing in the House ways and means committee, at least one other House committee and a Senate committee plan hearings.