Cisneros Probe Found Clinton IRS Abuse
By: Administrative Account | Source: NewsMax.com
April 25, 2005 5:39AM EST
Top Democrats are reportedly trying to deep-six the findings of an independent counsel probe into former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros that uncovered evidence the Clinton White House used the Internal Revenue Service to audit political enemies. Independent counsel David Barrett launched his investigation in 1995, based on evidence that Cisneros had lied about payments to his mistress. The probe expanded into a broader obstruction case involving alleged tax fraud, the News said – which led to a review of suspicious audits. But the facts may never come out, if Sen. Byron Dorgan and Sen. John Kerry get their way.
Saying Barrett's probe "should have ended years ago," the two top Democrats attached an amendment to a spending bill Tuesday to cut off his funding by June 1. Two sources close to the investigation told the News that if the legislation becomes law, it will prevent Barrett from releasing his findings.
At least a dozen Clinton witnesses – including Sexgate accusers Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Elizabeth Ward Gracen and Juanita Broaddrick – were targeted by audits during the 1990s.
Conservative groups critical of the Clinton administration were also audited, including the Christian Coalition, Citizens for a Sound Economy, the Freedom Alliance, the Heritage Foundation, the NRA and others.
Barrett's report is also said to allege that Justice Department officials snuffed out a tax case against Cisneros.
The probe's final report – now in the hands of a three-judge panel – reportedly says that the Clinton IRS "sometimes audited Clinton critics without good cause," according to the New York Daily News.
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