Based on the limited amount we know now, most agree that the things the IRS seems to have done with these Tea Party type groups were inappropriate and wrong. But what actual laws might have been violated? That’s more complicated. Eric Lach looks at a series of laws – though perhaps not the ones you might expect – that could have some of those IRS agents in trouble.
A new Quinnipiac poll shows longtime political fixer Terry McAuliffe (D) with a 5 point lead over Ken Cuccinelli (R). The PollTracker Average now gives McAuliffe a microscopic .6 advantage in the race.
JPMorgan asks Bloomberg to turn over records of which of their employees were snooped on by Bloomberg reporters.
Brian Beutler reports on the newly released Benghazi emails and the White House’s background briefing this afternoon with reporters.
In a White House appearance, Obama announced the (forced) resignation of acting IRS director.
Republicans didn’t seem to get the answers they were looking for in Eric Holder’s Capitol Hill “grilling”.
A short time ago, the White House released what appears to be all the Benghazi emails.
And the President will speak at 6 PM, apparently about the IRS story.
You’ve heard about PPP, the Dem-affiliated polling outfit that’s been on top of the news and one of the most accurate pollsters in the country over the last couple cycles. This afternoon at 4:30 PM TPM Newswriter and Assistant Polling Editor Tom Kludt is going to lead a conversation at TPMPrime with Tom Jensen, polling director at PPP. Click here to get in your questions now and join us at 4:30 PM.
Fox reporter presses Carney: Why do we have to have this firewall between the White House and the DOJ?
This is kind of technical. But it seems arguable that because he didn’t or may not have recused himself in writing that he didn’t actually recuse himself. And if that’s the case then the law still mandates that Holder was the only one (because it’s tied to a media organization) who could actually approve that AP subpoena. Like I said, technical. But not nothing under current circumstances.
Late Update: We’re looking again at the statute and it seems it may refer to situations where a special counsel is appointed. So may not apply in this case.