Some tea party groups targeted for extra scrutiny by the IRS may sue the tax-collecting agency, especially if they are not granted tax-exempt status by Friday.
"We are looking at it pretty seriously," lawyer Dan Backer, who represents conservative groups targeted by the Internal Revenue Service, told
Politico. Backer's clients include Combat Veterans Training Group and TheTeaParty.net.
The agency admitted on Friday that it had targeted groups with "conservative" and "tea party" in their names, among others. The groups were required to jump through more hoops than normal when applying for tax-exempt status. Some were asked to provide the names of their donors, a violation of normal IRS procedure.
A report set to be issued this week also says groups trying to make "America a better place to live" and those concerned with government spending and debt also were treated with extra scrutiny.
The American Center for Law and Justice, which represents 27 groups who say they were subjected to extra scrutiny, has demanded that the IRS approve its 10 remaining clients who are still awaiting tax-exempt status. The group set a Friday deadline, after which it said it will advise its clients of their right to seek damages.
Two of the group's clients have withdrawn their requests over frustration with the process, a statement from the
ACLJ said.
The ACLJ sent a letter to Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller demanding that any employees who carried out or knew about the actions be disciplined.
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