In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Sunday that the White House had never been a focus of his committee’s investigation into the IRS’ singling out of 501(c)(4) applications. “We’ve never looked for the White House, other than the White House is not cooperating and continues to not cooperate," Issa said.
What a difference a year makes:
Chairman Issa : “This was a targeting of the president’s political enemies, effectively, and lies [sic] about it during the election year so that it wasn’t discovered until afterwards." (May 14, 2013)
His House Republican colleagues have been just as pointed in their allegations of White House involvement, beginning with Chairman Camp’s and Rep. Boustany’s statement earlier this month:
Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp and Rep. Charles Boustany: “This entire case started with the White House." (June 17, 2014)
Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers : “Of course, the enemies list out of the White House that IRS was engaged in shutting down or trying to shut down the conservative political viewpoint across the country - an enemies list that rivals that of another president some time ago." (June 3, 2013)
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers : “You have IRS that clearly showed some criminal behavior that at least we know was back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." (June 16, 2013)
Senator Ted Cruz : “We have seen a consistent pattern in this administration, and the pattern is a willingness to use the machinery of government to target those they perceive as their political enemies. That was true with the IRS, and it’s true with the Department of Justice, in targeting reporters." (June 3, 2013)
