The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Finance Committee teamed up Monday to write a letter demanding documents from the IRS as part of an investigation into its targeting of conservative-leaning groups for additional scrutiny.
The letter from Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to acting (and outgoing) IRS commissioner Steven Miller included 41 separate requests for documentation surrounding the IRS’ internal actions that led to the controversy.
“These actions by the IRS appear to be a clear breach of the public’s trust,” the senators wrote. “Targeting groups based on their political views is not only inappropriate but it is also intolerable.”
The senators pointedly asked if the targeting was “influenced or prompted in any way by political pressure” from Congress or other elected officials — or the White House.
“Provide documents relation to communications between any and all IRS employees and any and all White House employees including, but not limited to, the President, regarding the targeting,” the letter read.
They gave the agency a deadline of May 31 to provide the information.
