Memo: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Was In on the IRS Targeting Conspiracy

The Daily Caller dropped this bombshell last night. That makes it feel a bit like a campaign dirty trick, but the DC has the goods here.

“The IRS is aware of the current public interest in this issue,” IRS chief counsel William J. Wilkins, a White House visitor described by insiders as “The President’s Man at the IRS,” personally wrote in a hand-stamped memo to “Senator Shaheen” on official Department of the Treasury letterhead on April 25, 2012.

The memo, obtained by TheDC, briefed the Democratic senator about a coordinated IRS-Treasury Department plot to target political activity by nonprofit 501(c)(4) groups. The plot was operating out of Lois Lerner’s Tax Exempt Government Entities Division. (RELATED: Liens Filed Against Dem Senator Jeanne Shaheen And Her Husband For Failure To Pay Creditors)

“These regulations have been in place since 1959,” Wilkins wrote. “We will consider proposed changes in this area as we work with Tax-Exempt and Government Entities and the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy to identify tax issues that should be addressed” in designing new regulations and “guidance.”

“I hope this information is helpful,” Wilkins wrote. “I am sending a similar response to your colleagues. If you have questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Cathy Barre at (202) 622-3720.”

Shaheen wasn’t the only Democrat who knew about the targeting. Sens. Chuck Schumer (NY), and Al Franken (MN) were also in on it, along with a handful of other key Democrat senators, according to the DC.

The Democrats have successfully walked that scandal past the mid-terms, just as they successfully walked Benghazi past the 2012 elections — by misleading and stonewalling. Release of this memo is probably too late to have much impact on Shaheen’s re-election race.

But if the Republicans do capture the Senate, investigating the IRS’ abuse of citizens must be a major priority. The Senate under Harry Reid has provided President Obama with a shield. Republicans should end that if they take over.