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Congressman Asks NSA to Provide Metadata for 'Lost' IRS Emails

posted by mattie_p on Tuesday June 17 2014, @11:01PM   
from the watching-the-watchers dept.

AnonTechie writes:

Per ArsTechnica, Representative Steve Stockman (R-TX) has sent a formal letter to the National Security Agency asking it to hand over "all its metadata" on the e-mail accounts of a former division director at the Internal Revenue Service. "Your prompt cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated and will help establish how IRS and other personnel violated rights protected by the First Amendment," Stockman wrote on Friday. The request came hours after the IRS told a congressional committee that it had "lost" all of the former IRS Exempt Organizations division director's e-mails between January 2009 and April 2011.

Hugh Pickens adds:

The IRS blames a "computer glitch" for erasing the emails which could have implicated Agency employees in illegal activity. "The metadata will establish who Lerner contacted and when, which helps investigators determine the extent of illegal activity by the IRS," says Stockman.

Hugh Pickens also notes that this is a case where one government agency accused of misconduct is asked to "assist" another government agency accused of misconduct.

• OK, it's smoking gun time OK, it's smoking gun time (Score: 2, Interesting) by Max Hyre on Wednesday June 18 2014, @04:59PM

  by Max Hyre (3427) <reversethis-{moc.oohay} {ta} {eryhxam}> on Wednesday June 18 2014, @04:59PM (#57024)

  [N.B.: 501(c)(4) organizations are tax-exempt.]
  
  The Law

  Take a look at the IRS's own docs [irs.gov] on the subject, specifically the sections titled The Statute and Social Welfare Organizations > Introduction

  The law says 501(c)(4) organizations are to be operated ``exclusively for the promotion of social welfare'' (civic leagues or organizations) or ``are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes'' (local associations of employees).

  Neither is allowed to engage in political activities, if you believe ``exclusive'' means ``nothing but''.

  Thus the law requires the IRS to investigate 501(c)(4) applicants for political activity, and if it finds any, to reject the application. Similarly, if an extant 501(c)(4) is found to be engaged in politics, its exemption must be revoked.
  
  The Regulation

  However, we find on the next page:

  Reg. 1. 501(c)(4)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that:

  [A]n organization is operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare if it is primarily engaged in promoting in some way the common good and general welfare of the community.

  WTF? `Exclusively` means `primarily`?

  And there's the scandal: the IRS is not following the law, and 501(c)(4) organizations shouldn't be engaging in any politics. Bang! PACs are dead.

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Moderation		+1
  Interesting=1, Total=1
  Extra 'Interesting' Modifier		0
  Total Score:		2

• Re:OK, it's smoking gun time (Score: 1) by Nygmus on Thursday June 19 2014, @05:27PM

  by Nygmus (3310) on Thursday June 19 2014, @05:27PM (#57510)

  Current interpretation allows lobbying for social issues to be considered as "social welfare." I think it's bullshit, but it's legal bullshit. They're allowed to engage in political activity as long as the majority of their activity is "social welfare," but the interpretation of lobbying as "social welfare" causes part of the issue.

  Yes, they are tax exempt, but that's not the reason the status is so hotly contested. Much more important is the ability to screen their donors, because it means that someone can pour money into a 501(c)(4) to support an issue without anyone being able to tell where the cash came from.

  Parent