N.J. tea party group scrutinized by IRS presses for investigation
The retirement of a top Internal Revenue Service official over extra scrutiny of tea party groups is not enough to satisfy one New Jersey tea party activist.
Lois Lerner apologized that IRS agents improperly targeted conservative groups for additional scrutiny when she was in charge. But she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing before being placed on paid leave in May.
The West Jersey Tea Party gave up seeking tax-exempt status because the IRS was demanding so much documentation, according to founder Bill Haney.
Haney said he doesn’t feel vindicated by Lerner’s retirement.
“Lois Lerner, in my mind, needs to be prosecuted,” Haney said Tuesday. “She got away with cheating the American people and now is getting full pension and benefits, and that’s just not right.”
Haney says Lerner’s departure does answer who ordered the investigation of the tea party groups.
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