The Internal Revenue Service says it has corrected the mistakes it made when it inappropriately singled out conservative non-profit groups for additional reviews during the 2012 election, and it has implemented new procedures to ensure they don’t happen again.
Steven Miller, the acting commissioner of the IRS, wrote in a USA Today op-ed Monday that while mistakes were made, “they were in no way due to any political or partisan motivation. We are — and will continue to be — dedicated to reviewing all applications for tax-exempt status in an impartial manner.”
Miller was briefed on the matter internally on May 3, 2012 but failed to alert Congress. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) have called on Miller to step down in the wake of the scandal. The Washington Post reported Monday night that IRS agents in Washington were also involved in the process.
In his op-ed, Miller admits the challenging nature of the task set before the IRS: accurately screen tax-exempt 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) applications from organizations seeking “social welfare” status.
“It’s not always a clear area, and there are no bright-line tests for what constitutes political intervention,” he wrote. “Yet, the IRS is tasked with monitoring and enforcing this difficult area.”
Miller is scheduled to testify the House Committee on Ways and Means on Friday alongside Treasury Inspector General, J. Russell George, who is preparing an independent review of the alleged misconduct.
President Barack Obama on Monday called the IRS admission “outrageous” and that, pending the Inspector General’s official report, his administration would hold individuals who were involved responsible.
