A "corrupt" Internal Revenue Service still is shooting down advocates for conservative causes, especially if they have the words "tea party" in their names, even though courts have told the bureaucrats to stop.
Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice said three non-profits that had applied for tax-exempt status years ago at a time when the agency, under the Obama administration, was selectively targeting and discriminating against conservative groups, recently received letters from the IRS regarding their requests.
Two of the organizations were denied tax-exempt status.
"It is clear that we still have an IRS that is corrupt and incapable of self-correction," Sekulow said.
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"We're pleased Unite in Action has finally received its approval after lengthy delays. We're now in the process of reviewing the proposed denials in the other two cases as we aggressively move forward with our federal lawsuit against the IRS to ensure it is bound by the U.S. Constitution and the law protecting the fundamental freedoms of speech and association that serve as the bedrock to this great nation."
The IRS has admitted agency workers deliberately delayed processing applications for some groups that clearly were opposed to Barack Obama's agenda.
The IRS investigators were revealed to have been asking invasive questions, such as the subject of group members' prayers. They also tried to coerce groups into promises they would drop their opposition to the Planned Parenthood abortion business agenda.
A number of groups sued, and some of the disputes are still a long way from resolution.
"As we continue our fight at the ACLJ against the lawless, unconstitutional Obama administration's IRS targeting of grassroots conservatives, we are achieving important victories," Sekulow said.
"But the fight also continues in federal court to ensure justice for all 38 of our clients from 22 states across the country. We must not stop fighting the IRS corruption until there is true justice and assurances that no American will ever be targeted by the IRS for his or her beliefs ever again.
"Three of our remaining clients have received determinations from the IRS in recent weeks after a significant victory in which a federal judge ordered the IRS to issue determinations within 30 days. Michigan-based Unite in Action – after waiting for more than six years – has been approved by the IRS."
However, he said, two other clients – Albuquerque Tea Party from New Mexico and Tri Cities Tea Party from Washington state – received proposed denials regarding their applications.
"The lengthy delays in receiving these determinations underscores the continuing problems inside the Obama administration's IRS."
The Washington Times reported the IRS declined to comment.
Sekulow argues the IRS has violated the citizen groups First Amendment rights.
In August, WND reported a federal appeals court ordered a lawsuit back on the docket until the federal agency proves it has stopped the discriminatory targeting.
The Times called the decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit a "rebuke" of the IRS.
The court found the IRS "did, in fact, discriminate against tea party groups."
The IRS claimed it had voluntarily stopped the offending actions and wanted the lawsuit dismissed.
But the Times Judge David B. Sentelle, writing for the appeals court, said that was clearly not the case because some organizations were still awaiting approval years after they applied.
Sentelle also rejected the IRS' explanation that the groups couldn't be processed because they were suing the IRS, calling it a classic catch-22.