Enzi Questions IRS Tactics During Senate Hearing [VIDEO]

During a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday that focused on the criteria the IRS used to target specific organizations applying for tax exempt status, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., questioned Treasury Inspector General (IG) for Tax Administration J. Russell George on possible criminal penalties for the IRS actions and accusations that the agency leaked taxpayer info.

Enzi asked why the IRS shared confidential information, such as application materials and donor names, of conservative groups with the liberal news media group ProPublica. According to the IG, the release of taxpayer information could be a violation of federal law and does carry criminal penalties. George also noted that if evidence of such activity is found, it would be turned over to prosecutors for criminal prosecution.

When asked by Enzi if he still believed the actions the IRS took were inappropriate, but not illegal, sentiments the IG had expressed at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing last week, the IG responded, “Thus far, we have not uncovered any actions that would be deemed illegal.”