IRS Hearing: Trail Leads to Washington, Not Cincinnati 'Rogues'

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform resumed hearings on the IRS scandal Thursday, featuring two key witnesses: Cincinnati-based IRS employee Elizabeth Hofacre, and Washington-based IRS lawyer Carter Hull, who recently retired after 48 years of service.

While both said they were unaware of any political motivations or White House involvement, Carter said the treatment of Tea Party cases had been unusual, and Hofacre said she had been "deeply offended" by attempts to blame rogue agents in Cincinnati.

Hull noted that even after he had recommended that certain Tea Party applications be approved, the approval was held up for further review by the office of the Chief Counsel of the IRS and other high-level officials. In his experience, he testified, that had never happened in nearly half a century of work at the IRS.

More