Even though 132 members of Congress sent former Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Douglas Shulman letters about the IRS targeting of conservative groups, Shulman reiterated Wednesday that he did not have the full story until the inspector general’s report came out.
“In the two years that this targeting was taking place, did any member of Congress contact you? Write you? About this particular subject? Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan asked during a House Oversight hearing. “Did you get letters from Congress?”
“Yes,” Shulman replied.
Jordan explained that based on documents from the IRS, 132 different members of Congress contacted Shulman over the two year period the IRS was targeting conservative groups about the tax exemption issue.
Jordan pointed out to Shulman that there had been 42 news stories about potential IRS targeting in that two-year timeframe as well.
“So here is what everyone wants to know: You’ve got 132 members of the United States Congress contacting you about this issue, 42 news stories about this issue in the time period in question, and you never checked it out. You never researched it. I mean, are you sure you’re being square with us today, Mr. Shulman?”
“I am absolutely telling you the truth today,” Shulman said.
Jordan also delved into the number of times Shulman visited the White House.
“One hundred and eighteen times you were at the White House, 132 Members of Congress contact you about this information, 42 major news stories about this very subject and you told Congress a year ago, ‘I can give you assurances nothing is going on, everything is wonderful, we’re not targeting conservative groups,'” Jordan said. “That is why the American people are like, ‘This is unbelievable.'”
