Goodlatte Response to DOJ Announcement That IRS Officials Committed No Crime

Statement

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that no criminal prosecution would be brought against IRS personnel regarding the targeting of conservative groups:

"At every turn President Obama and administration officials have repeatedly and publicly undermined the investigation into the IRS's targeting of conservative groups yet today's announcement from the Department of Justice is still very disturbing.

"I repeatedly called on then Attorney General Holder to appoint a Special Counsel to conduct the investigation to ensure a fair and thorough process but instead the investigation was led by a loyal Democratic donor. Even as far back as last year unnamed DOJ officials leaked information to the media suggesting that the Department did not plan to file criminal charges over the IRS's targeting of conservative groups.

"The Department of Justice investigation did conclude that the actions of IRS personnel involved in the scandal was "disquieting' and in that we all agree. However, the American people should be concerned that this kind of politicization continues to go unchecked by this Administration and a Justice Department charged with pursuing wrongdoing. You can be sure this will be a major issue during the Committee's DOJ oversight hearing with Attorney General Lynch next week."

Background:

In May 2014, the House of Representatives approved by a vote of 250-168 a resolution (H.Res. 565) authored by Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) targeting of conservative groups. Chairman Goodlatte's floor statement can be found here.

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