The Richmond Tea Party began the quest for tax-exempt status in December, 2009.  Approval was finally granted in July, 2012.  It is what happened during those 31 months that lead to this lawsuit.

Thanks to all of our supporters who stand with us in support of Constitutional adherence and the rule of law.

Here is the press release from our law firm, American Center for Law and Justice:

May 28, 2013

ACLJ FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST IRS ON BEHALF OF 25 TEA PARTY GROUPS

(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice today filed a significant lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C. on behalf of 25 Tea Party and conservative organizations against the U.S. Attorney General, Treasury Secretary, and Internal Revenue Service – including top IRS officials.

“The IRS and the federal government are not going to get away with this unlawful targeting of conservative groups,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. “As this unconstitutional scheme continues even today, the only way to stop this flagrant and arrogant abuse of our clients’ rights is to file a federal lawsuit which we have done. The lawsuit sends a very powerful message to the IRS and the Obama Administration ­ including the White House: Americans are not going to be bullied and intimidated by our government. They will not be subjected to unconstitutional treatment and unlawfully singled out and punished because of their ideological beliefs. Those responsible for this unprecedented intimidation ploy must be held accountable.”

The lawsuit, posted here, urges the court to find that the Obama Administration overstepped its authority and violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, as well as violating the IRS’s own rules and regulations. The lawsuit requests a declaratory judgment that the defendants unlawfully delayed and obstructed the organizations applications for a determination of tax-exempt status by means of conduct that was based on unconstitutional criteria and impermissibly disparate treatment of the groups. The suit also seeks injunctive relief to protect our clients ­ and their officers and directors ­ from further IRS abuse or retaliation. Further, the lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive monetary damages to be determined at trial at a later date.

 

In the lawsuit, the ACLJ cites six counts arguing the federal government violated the constitution, federal law, and even its own rules and regulations.

The suit contends that the Obama Administration “unlawfully delayed and thereby effectively denied approval of Plaintiffs’ applications for tax exempt status by means of a comprehensive, pervasive, invidious and organized scheme that purposefully established unnecessary and burdensome inquiries and scrutiny of Plaintiffs’ applications based solely upon Plaintiffs’ political viewpoints (or Defendants’ assumption of Plaintiffs’ viewpoints, based on their organizational names).”

Further, the complaint asserts that the federal government’s “unlawful conduct included but was not limited to excessive scrutiny of Plaintiffs’ applications by requiring donor names, listing of issues important to Plaintiffs’ organizations, including their positions on such issues, the contents of communications between the organizations and legislative bodies, the applicant’s criteria for membership, volunteer names and the political affiliations of persons associated with the organizations . . .”

The ACLJ represents a total of 25 organizations in the lawsuit, with additional groups likely to be added to the suit as it progresses. The names of the organizations represented are posted here. Of the 25 groups, 13 organizations received tax-exempt status after lengthy delays, 10 are still pending, and two withdrew applications because of frustration with the IRS process.

The ACLJ lists as defendants in the case: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the Internal Revenue Service; Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew; Steven Miller, former acting commissioner of the IRS; Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations Division for the IRS; Holly Paz, Director, Office of Rulings and Agreements; and unknown named officials inside the IRS.

The IRS contends that the targeting scheme originated with a couple of rogue IRS agents out of the Cincinnati, Ohio office and contends the abusive conduct has been halted. However, the ACLJ has correspondence showing this tactic was used not only in the Cincinnati office, but also from two offices in California, El Monte and Laguna Niguel as well as the national office in Washington, D.C. In fact, the Washington office sent a letter to one of our clients as recently as one month ago.

Further, the ACLJ has letters signed by Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations, suggesting her personal involvement in sending invasive questionnaires to15 of our clients in March 2012 – some nine months after she was told about the scheme and promised to stop it.

The ACLJ has heard from nearly 100,000 Americans calling on President Obama and members of Congress to end the IRS abuse.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, is based in Washington, D.C. and is online at www.aclj.org.

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Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Contact: Mark Daugherty            540-885-5627
Email: trail100liberty@gmail.com

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Rejects IRS Apology for their Abusive and Discriminatory Practices – Cites IRS for Unconstitutional Actions and Behavior

(Richmond, VA) – “The IRS Exempt Organizations unit has violated the sacred constitutional rights of some 75 Tea Party and Patriot groups that had applied for tax-exempt status between 2009 and 2012,” said Mark Daugherty, Chairman, Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation.  “The Tea Party rejects the apology by Lois Lerner, Director, Exempt Organizations, for her department’s confirmed discrimination and illegal treatment against groups that have the words ‘Tea Party’ or ‘Patriots’ in their name,” declared Mr. Daugherty.

The Constitutional violations include.

1.     First Amendment: The rights of free speech. Viewpoint discrimination.

2.     Fourth Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.

3.     Fourteenth Amendment: Equal protection of the law.

Mark Daugherty said, “This egregious behavior requires a full top-to-bottom investigation by the Inspector General of the operations and practices of the IRS Exempt Organizations unit. “Furthermore, The IRS agents, supervisors, and senior executives should be held accountable for their illegal actions.”

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation notes the abusive and overtly political behavior by the IRS during the Clinton administration when critics of President Clinton were subjected to tax audits.* “This cycle of IRS abuse and illegal behavior must be stopped,” said Mark Daugherty.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation thanks the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) for advocating on behalf of 27 tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including tea party groups in Virginia.

“Several Tea Party groups in northern Virginia were discouraged from seeking tax-exempt status due to the chilling effects of the enhanced investigations by the IRS,” said Mark Daugherty.  “In addition, the Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots spent 26 months working through the tortuous tax-exempt process, and spent 235 hours to compile a 10-pound report measuring seven inches thick, to comply with a second-round of IRS information requests.”

Ron Wilcox, lead organizer of the Northern Va Tea Party, said, “We were discouraged from applying for tax exempt status because we knew the IRS was targeting the tea party groups for ‘special examination’ and ‘enforcement’.”

“The tea party groups targeted should also be reimbursed for the extra time and expense forced upon them in attempting to comply with these illegal, threatening mandates handed down against them by the IRS,” states Mr. Daugherty.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a coalition of 46 independent Tea Party and patriot groups that stand for fiscal responsibility, constitutionally-limited government, and free market principles.

*http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/07/30/column.novak/

#  # #

1. Campaign Viability
2. One-hour individual interviews with each candidate on 32 questions covering political philosophy, conservative principles, and major issues

Phase #1: Campaign Viability

In early February the 7 LG and 2 AG candidates were sent a list of 21 questions, requesting Confidential answers on topics including:

1. Campaign planning, structure, and strategy
2. Campaign manager, staff, consultants
3. Opposition research (Both inward and outward)
4. Fundraising plan and results
5. Unique aspects of the campaign

On April 25th, a nine-person committee comprised of Tea Party leaders, a Middle Resolution representative, and Chris Doss, spent three hours studying the confidential responses on Campaign Viability and determined specific point scores for all nine campaigns based on those responses.

During the April 26-27^th Vetting Weekend, the Campaign Viability point scores were reported to the more than 200 vetting evaluators to give them a sense of the relative strength of the campaigns.  The Campaign Viability scores were later added to the Phase Two Vetting Interview scores to reach LG and AG candidate’s rankings.

Phase # 2 April 26-27^th Vetting Interviews

On April 26-27^th, more than 200 Tea Party and Middle Resolution participants observed 1-hour interviews where Chris Doss, Moderator, directed 32 questions on political philosophy, conservative principles, and important issues.

Examples of the 32 questions

1. Why is government spending bad?
2. What is the purpose of government?
3. What are the pros and cons of Virginia’s tax laws?
4. What economic philosophers guide your economic thinking?
5. How will your campaign fight against the Alinsky tactics that will be used against you?

The more than 200 vetting evaluators from over 30 participating Tea Party groups and Middle Resolution scored all nine candidates on their responses to the 32 questions.  Each Tea Party group then averaged their scores, leading to one representative score from each group. The total of these averaged group scores was then given to each candidate as their Phase 2 score.

After a completion of the Vetting interviews on Saturday afternoon, a committee drawn from Tea Party leaders and Middle Resolution compiled the Phase I and Phase 2 scores resulting in Corey Stewart as the highest-ranking LG candidate and Mark Obenshain as the highest ranking AG candidate.

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Contact: Mark Daugherty            (540) 885-5627
Email: trail100liberty@gmail.com

Middle Resolution PAC Contact: Angie Parker                                             (804) 746-1508
Email: angie@middleresolution.org

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation and Middle Resolution Select Corey Stewart for Lieutenant Governor and Mark Obenshain for Attorney General

(Richmond, VA) – “Corey Stewart placed first in the joint Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation/Middle Resolution comprehensive Lieutenant Governor candidate vetting process, held on April 26-27,” said Mark Daugherty, Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Chairman.  “Senator Mark Obenshain earned first place in the Attorney General candidate vetting competition,” Daugherty added.

Angie Parker, Executive Director of Middle Resolution PAC, noted, “The Lieutenant Governor race has been very competitive with a field of excellent candidates.  We are pleased that Corey Stewart demonstrated a strong grasp of the constitutional principles of limited government and individual liberty during his questioning.   Furthermore, Mr. Stewart has a well-organized and well-financed campaign.”  Parker added, “Senator Mark Obenshain delivered an outstanding performance during his interview.  This proven strength, combined with a vigorous statewide campaign, places Mark in a good position for both the May 18^th nominating convention and November 5^th general election.”

Over 200 Virginia Tea Party and Middle Resolution members from 31 groups across the state took part in the vetting session, each completing scorecards based on the candidates’ responses during live interviews.  Identical questions on constitutional principles principles, policy, and political philosophy were asked of each candidate; candidates were not given questions beforehand.  Campaign viability was also factored into the evaluation.

Participating Tea Party groups and Middle Resolution members will share the knowledge gained from the two-day vetting process with over 1,000 convention delegates from their respective groups.  These delegates will then support Corey Stewart and Mark Obenshain for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, respectively, at the May 17-18^th Republican Nominating Convention in Richmond where a multiple ballot process will lead to the selection of a Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor and a single ballot process will determine the Republican nominee for Attorney General.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a coalition of 46 independent Tea Party and patriot groups that stand for fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market principles.

Founded in Richmond, Virginia, Middle Resolution PAC helps elect leaders who are committed to restoring individual rights and limited government as described in the U.S. Constitution.  Middle Resolution also holds legislators accountable once in office, following all necessary voting records.

To learn more about the vetting process and top-ranked candidates Corey Stewart and Mark Obenshain, please visit www.virginiateapartypatriots.com and www.middleresolution.org.

#  # #

   @ Richmond NAGR Field Office

 Friday – April 26, 2013

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Dudley Brown will be coming to the local National Gun Rights (NAGR) Field Office in Richmond! Please join Dudley Brown and NAGR members as they discuss the current session and how their 3.4 million members can fight the impending “next round” of gun control Obama has promised is coming.

They will have plenty of food, so bring your friends and your family!

When: 5:30pm on Friday, 26 April 2013

Where: 6010 N Crestwood Ave., Richmond, VA 23230 

***

I-64 Westbound:
Exit Staples Mill (33) East Right on Broad (250) Right on Crestwood

***
I-64 Eastbound:
Exit Broad (250) East Left on Crestwood

   @ Richmond NAGR Field Office

 Friday – April 26, 2013

****

Dudley Brown will be coming to the local National Gun Rights (NAGR) Field Office in Richmond! Please join Dudley Brown and NAGR members as they discuss the current session and how their 3.4 million members can fight the impending “next round” of gun control Obama has promised is coming.

They will have plenty of food, so bring your friends and your family!

When: 5:30pm on Friday, 26 April 2013

Where: 6010 N Crestwood Ave., Richmond, VA 23230 

***

I-64 Westbound:
Exit Staples Mill (33) East Right on Broad (250) Right on Crestwood

***
I-64 Eastbound:
Exit Broad (250) East Left on Crestwood

You won’t believe this (well, yes you probably will). From The Hill on Friday:

With little fanfare, the House quickly voted Friday to repeal a financial transparency requirement for senior government officials, which was part of a much-heralded government transparency bill last year.

Members passed S. 716 by unanimous consent, with no debate and no description on the floor about what the bill would do. The Senate passed it in the same fashion on Thursday.

The bill amends the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which was passed last year on the heels of complaints that members of Congress and senior officials are using their government knowledge to enrich themselves through stock trades or other actions.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/293597-congress-quietly-repeals-financial-transparency-rules-for-government-officials#ixzz2Qaema5Hy

 
OF COURSE your elected government servants are working to limit transparency. Anything that would inhibit their ability to raise revenue by the power of their position must not be tolerated. Don’t you feel like a sucker?
 

Lt. General Wm. G “Jerry” Boykin

U.S. Army retired – Activist for Liberty

Sunday April 21st at 3pm
Ft. Lee Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

General Boykin will speak to
Tea Partiers and the Public about

Changing U.S. Ideology: a Drift towards Marxism

SEE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7w3ZEbC09k

Photo: US Army via Getty Images

Lt.General Boykin was a U.S Army Green Beret & an organizer of
The Delta Force, commanding sensitive missions. He played a role in every major American military operation over the past four decades.

Served at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as Deputy Director of Special Activities. Served as U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

An Ordained Minister, he is listed as a board member of The Oak Initiative,
a conservative Christian group which is a grassroots movement to Unite, Mobilize, Equip, and Activate Christians to engage in the great issues of our time from a sound biblical worldview.

Lt. General Boykin is an authority on International Terrorism and Marxism; Executive Vice President at the Family Research Council -  or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Research_Council

He is also an author and teaches at Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia
Man of notable accomplishments; frequently a guest of Glenn Beck on TheBLAZE TVFor extensive background info, see  Lt Gen Boykin

*******

RSVP to the Louisa VA Tea Party

c/o fredthejazzman@comcast.net
OR
CALL FRED at 540-967-3616

MAXIMUM SEATING 300 ATTENDEES

*****

The lecture will take place

in the

Sanctuary of the Ft. Lee Baptist Church.

2727 Charles City Road, Richmond, VA 23231

DIRECTIONS: www.fortleebaptistchurch.org

*****

This event is non-partisan, free of charge, and open to the public.
Sponsored by: The Louisa VA Tea Party
www.louisavateaparty.org

Don’t believe the lies…this is being intentionally done to create dramatic theater (like releasing illegal alien felons back into the US population).

Watch this video by Bill Whittle for details.

Central planners just can’t help themselves….they know what’s best for the entire country.