Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urged Treasury Secretary Jack Lew today to demand the resignation of the Internal Revenue Service commissioner over the targeting of conservative groups.
The IRS commissioner is a presidential appointee. From the end of George W. Bush’s second term and through President Obama’s first term until three days after Election Day, it was Doug Shulman.
Shulman’s spot hasn’t been filled by Obama and Steven T. Miller is the current acting commissioner.
“The American people deserve answers about how such seemingly unconstitutional and potentially criminal behavior could occur, and who else was aware of it throughout the Administration. It is imperative that you, your predecessor, and other past and present high-ranking officials at the Department of Treasury and IRS immediately testify before Congress,” Rubio wrote Lew.
“The public expects your complete cooperation with both congressional investigations and potential criminal inquiries. If investigations reveal that bureaucrats or political appointees engaged in unconstitutional or criminal targeting of conservative taxpayers, they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the senator continued. “At a bare minimum, those involved with this deeply offensive use of government power have committed a violation of the public trust that has already had a profoundly chilling effect on free speech. Such behavior cannot be excused with a simple apology.”
Rubio said “it is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people’s confidence under the current leadership.”
“Therefore, I strongly urge that you and President Obama demand the IRS Commissioner’s resignation, effectively immediately. No government agency that has behaved in such a manner can possibly instill any faith and respect from the American public.”
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