Jim Jordan: IRS has ‘pattern’ of destroying records, disobeying preservation orders

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During a hearing today before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) articulated a distinct pattern of failures by the IRS to preserve documents when ordered. Among those failures was the destruction of 422 back-up tapes containing potentially 24,000 emails related to the IRS targeting scandal.

During the hearing Rep. Jordan said of the IRS:

“There is a pattern of destroying records, a pattern of destroying documents, and frankly a pattern of destroying records and documents when you’ve been told not to. Preservation orders and whistle-blowers coming forward, and yet it continues. And when that happens, some people get promoted at the IRS. Of course we need this hearing.”

The hearing, entitled, “IRS: Reviewing its Legal Obligations, Document Preservation, and Data Security,” featured Terry Milholland, IRS chief technology officer; Jeff Tribiano, a deputy commissioner at the IRS; and Ed Killen, a director at the IRS as witnesses.

The committee also focused on a new policy in 2016 to prevent the destruction of laptops and cellular devices of departing employees. This comes five years after Congress first raised concerns about targeting at the IRS, and about the fact that former IRS employee Lois Lerner’s technology devices were destroyed instead of preserved.

VIDEO of Rep. Jordan’s opening statement: https://youtu.be/30SwYSAtmoE

VIDEO of first Q/A: https://youtu.be/ChmFCDHIz80

VIDEO of second Q/A: https://youtu.be/qAOrHR726RU

VIDEO of full hearing: https://goo.gl/fWXZZP

Staff report

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