| Printed from JudicialWatch.org Nov 16, 1999 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
(Washington, D.C.) Associated Press has issued a story entitled "Documents Pinpoint Federal Audits" written by Larry Margasak and John Solomon. The key story in this article involves Western Journalism Center, a client of Judicial Watch, who was audited by the Clinton IRS because of its investigation of the Vince Foster death. In the course of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, Judicial Watch uncovered a letter sent by a Clinton supporter in Beverly Hills to President Bill Clinton. The letter did not request a tax audit, but simply complained about Western Journalism Center's advertising of its investigation of Foster's death. IRS documents show that the President forwarded this letter to the IRS, which triggered the audit. "Obviously, when the President forwards a letter to an executive branch agency, government bureaucrats �answer the call and take action.' To do otherwise would be a �poor career choice.' It is, therefore, clear that Judicial Watch has uncovered the first direct evidence that the Clinton White House has commenced IRS audits of groups critical to it. While Western Journalism Center was cleared of any charge of wrongdoing, Mr. Clinton's actions constitute a crime, since they are an unlawful abuse of government power to harm critics," stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. Judicial Watch continues to pursue two lawsuits on behalf of the Western Journalism Center. | |