IRS Employees Linked to Tea Party Scrutiny Now in Leadership Positions
Recent findings from the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), as shared by the Daily Caller News Foundation, reveal that some employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who were involved in targeting conservative groups during the Obama administration are still in significant roles within the agency.
Robert Che, who held the position of director of the Judgment and Contracts Division for the IRS from 2007 to 2010, previously came under scrutiny. During his leadership, the IRS was found to have applied increased examination to organizations associated with the Tea Party seeking tax-exempt status. Despite this controversial past, Che recently received a promotion to oversee the very section that manages tax laws for these organizations.
It’s interesting to note that Che reported to Lois Lerner, an IRS official who became infamous for her involvement in the scandal. Lerner was specifically noted for prioritizing applications with keywords like “tea party” or “Patriot,” which ultimately led to her resignation in 2013. Lerner’s emails, where she referred to Republicans in unflattering terms, further fueled perceptions of bias within the agency.
Current information from the IRS Organization Chart, dated May 8, confirms that Che is still actively employed by the IRS, though neither he nor the White House has commented on these developments.
While Che hasn’t faced formal disciplinary actions for his role in the agency’s past controversies, records reveal he participated in email discussions concerning the Tea Party investigations, implying some level of awareness regarding the agency’s internal operations at that time. Interestingly, Che’s voter registration indicates he is affiliated with the Democratic Party—something that raises eyebrows given the situation.
Moreover, it’s not just Che who is still in a prominent position; Holly Paz, another figure linked to the Tea Party incident, now serves as the director of the Control and Agreement Department after having been placed on administrative leave in 2013 due to her actions during the scandal. Furthermore, during her tenure, Paz was known to have reviewed multiple applications from Tea Party organizations, and several of those applications experienced lengthy delays.
The AAF has expressed concerns, stating that it’s crucial for the Trump administration to ensure the IRS divisions are free from long-standing left-wing biases and to consider removing employees tied to past tax controversies.
