In the history of mankind, many republics have risen, have flourished for a less or greater time, and then have fallen because their citizens lost the power of governing themselves and thereby of governing their state. TR
“What the IRS did is an outrage! Show outrage. Oh, wait a second, I’m not supposed to read that.” – Barack Obama A note from our attorneys: This is not a real quote
9:45 am || Receives the Presidential Daily Briefing 11:00 am || Delivers remarks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service; U.S. Capitol 12:30 pm || Lunch with Biden All times Eastern Live Stream of Carney briefing at 12:30 pm
The FBI and the Department of Justice have launched a investigation into whether crimes were committed in the targeting by the IRS of conservative groups. “The FBI is coordinating with the Justice Department to see if any laws were broken in connection with those matters,” Attorney General Eric Holder during a briefing today. “We are examining the facts to see if there were criminal violations.”
Attorney General Holder today said he had nothing to do with seizing phone records of the Associated Press, revealing that he had recused himself from the whole case because he was interviewed by the FBI in connection with the investigation. Holder spoke at the Justice Department. Here is some video from the briefing: Instead, Holder said, it was Deputy Attorney General Jim Cole who rounded
Scheduled for 12:30 pm ET. Unless of course they cancel it. Or maybe instead of briefing the reporters they’ll arrest them. UPDATE: The briefing has concluded.
Chuck Todd of NBC News this morning did a good and succinct job of laying out the problems with the massive Justice Department culling of Associated Press phone records. Todd notes the crux of the issue: Reporters rely on confidentiality to do their jobs. No confidentiality – then no scoops, no information the government doesn’t want you to have, no accountability. Once people think –
New evidence is emerging that the probes into the tax status of conservative organizations, which the administration has claimed were confined to a rogue operation in Cincinnati, in fact stretched well into Washington – and how far is anyone’s guess. Increasingly, the assertion that a few dummies in Cincy did something stupid is sounding like the Nixon-era claim that Watergate was just a third-rate burglary.
IRS officials in DC probed conservatives . . . Washington Post Acting IRS chief knew of scrutiny in 2012 . . . Politico Israel-focused groups also targeted by IRS . . . Politico Cheney: This reminds me of Watergate . . . Examiner Scandals threaten Obama’s credibility . . . National Journal Holder’s job could be on the line . . . National Journal Chaffetz’s doubts began