Joe Miller Says Begich Should Release Correspondence with IRS
Responding to reports that the IRS is continuing to refuse disclosure of communications with Mark Begich relating to its discrimination against tea party and other conservative groups, Joe Miller is calling on the senator to release any and all correspondence or documents (electronic or otherwise) exchanged between himself, his staff and top IRS officials between 2009 and the present.
“I would think in an election year, especially, Mark Begich would want to clear his name of any wrong-doing with respect to IRS profiling,” Miller said. “He should see this as an opportunity to show Alaskans that there really is a difference between his mode of operation and that of the White House with respect to transparency.”
At issue is a FOIA request submitted a year ago that the IRS has still not complied with. In the request, the National Republican Senatorial Committee reportedly asked for all correspondence and documents that passed between Mark Begich’s office and top IRS officials between 2009-2013.
The IRS appears to be stonewalling, having asked no less than six times for more time to compile and go through the information, clearly implying that such documents exists. A FOIA request is supposed to be responded to within 30 days of receipt.
Earlier this year, Begich joined New York Senator Chuck Schumer and other vulnerable Democrats in calling for more scrutiny of certain issue advocacy groups that claim tax exempt status. He has suggested the tax code is being used for cover to engage in political activities.
Just this week, the junior senator boasted of calling the IRS Commissioner to his office, alleging unfair targeting of Alaska’s airline industry. Yet he has been strangely silent regarding blatant political profiling of Tea Party and conservative groups by the IRS, leading some to speculate on his personal involvement in encouraging potentially criminal activity.
Miller concluded, “I think Alaskans have a right to know if Mark Begich played a role in illegal activities at the IRS during the course of his public duties. If he didn’t, it should be a small matter to provide the records his office has of correspondence and other documents exchanged with top officials at the IRS.”