House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) called on Monday for IRS Commissioner John Koskinen to uphold the committee’s request to release all documents related to the IRS’s alleged targeting of conservative groups.
In a letter to Koskinen, Camp said he would be forced to consider using compulsory process if the IRS does not comply with the request.
“At a recent subcommittee on oversight hearing on Jan. 28, 2014, you promised to work with the committee to fulfill this months-long request,” Camp said. “However, we have yet to receive any additional Lerner documents. If the IRS does not take immediate steps to provide the committee with documents responsive to this request, I will consider using compulsory process to compel them.”
During the subcommittee meeting in January, Camp pressed Koskinen about proposed Treasury Department rules that would limit the ability of conservative-leaning 501c4 groups to engage in political activities.
“I want to be perfectly clear, this committee will fight any and all efforts to restrict the rights of groups to organize, speak-out and educate the public, just as unions are allowed to do so,” Camp said in January. “We will get to the bottom of this, and I expect the IRS to produce – quickly – the outstanding documents the committee has requested.”
Camp also called for finalization of the proposed rules to be delayed until investigations into the alleged IRS targeting of conservative groups is completed.