FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South Carolina Republican Party

IRS harassed South Carolina group, SCGOP Chair calls for independent counsel

Columbia, S.C.- In the past 24 hours, a South Carolina Tea Party group has come forward after being targeted by the IRS for nearly three years.

In September 2012, the IRS sent Laurens County Tea Party founder Dianne Belsom “a letter requesting extensive information about the group’s activities, including its Web site, Facebook page and other online accounts.”

The Laurens County Tea Party initially requested tax-exempt status in July 2010. The group has still not received an answer. (Source: http://www.viralread.com/2013/05/14/irs-tax-harassment-scandal-tea-party-south-carolina/)

S.C. Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly commented, “The Obama Administration using the IRS to target political opponents and silence dissent is beyond reprehensible. It is dangerous for our constitutional Republic and must not be tolerated.

“On behalf of many South Carolina Republicans, I call on President Obama to immediately appoint an independent counsel and special prosecutor to investigate the political abuses at the Obama IRS.”

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