Douglas Shulman, who led the IRS during the politically-charged targeting of Tea Party and conservative groups, visited the White House 118 times after that probe began, raising new questions about his claim he never revealed details of the probe to the president’s staff.
During Wednesday’s contentious IRS hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Jim Jordan aggressively challenged Shulman’s denials of sharing info with the president’s team, detailing the number of visits the former taxman met with White House staff and was quizzed about it by lawmakers and media.
“One-hundred-eighteen times you were at the White House” in 2010 and 2011, accused Jordan. “One hundred thirty-two members of Congress contacted you about this information, 42 major news stories about this very subject, and you told Congress a year ago, ‘I can give you assurance, nothing is going on, everything is wonderful, we’re not targeting conservative groups’,” said the Ohio congressman.
He then asked if Shulman was sure he didn’t talk about the IRS-Tea Party investigation to anyone at the White House.
Shulman: “I am absolutely sure.” He added: “Not to my memory and it wouldn’t be appropriate so I certainly believe I didn’t have any conversations.”
With Joel Gehrke