DesJarlais Says IRS Officials Have Feigned Ignorance

DesJarlais firmly questioned Shulman at the hearing, implying distrust for the IRS. Credit: C-SPAN

Tennessee Congressman Scott DesJarlais got in a few words as Internal Revenue Services officials testified to a House Oversight committee Wednesday. He asked the former IRS commissioner if he failed to report on conservative groups getting extra scrutiny because he thought it might hurt President Obama.

 “Do you think that that kind of information could potentially harm the president in an election year? Did that cross your mind?”

Former IRS chief Doug Shulman said “no.”

DesJarlais – a Republican – suggests IRS officials have “feigned total ignorance” about singling out Tea Party-related organizations applying for tax-exempt status.

Tennessee Democrats have been critical of the IRS as well. Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper sent a letter to the president encouraging the administration to figure out who broke the law and “punish them.”