Richmond Tea Party sues IRS, Obama administration

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The Richmond Tea Party is one more than two dozen tea party organizations suing the IRS and the Obama administration for being unfairly targeted.

The American Center for Law and Justice filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of the 25 organizations. They seek monetary compensation for their troubles and a promise conservative groups won't be further targeted.

Click here to read the lawsuit: http://media.aclj.org/pdf/tea-party-complaint.pdf

The Richmond Tea Party was granted 501(c)4 status after years of delays, while 10 others in the suit are still awaiting approval.

A seven-page letter sent to the Richmond Tea Party by the Internal Revenue Service in January 2012 asked for a vast array of information, due in part to the IRS' failure to act on information provided by the group more than 14 months earlier.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER FROM THE IRS TO THE RICHMOND TEA PARTY: http://ftpcontent4.worldnow.com/wwbt/Documents/RichmondTeaParty2.pdf

The letter was sent by IRS employees in Cincinnati, who were called 'rogue' and 'off the reservation' by acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller prior to his resignation. Miller says the employees have already been disciplined for targeting Tea Party and Liberty groups applying for non-profit status.

The letter continues by asking for copies of all publications or advertising materials distributed, copies of the Richmond Tea Party web pages, and presentations they posted on other sites, blogs and social networks.

It also asks the Richmond Tea Party to send copies of all communications, pamphlets and ads distributed to try and influence specific legislation and any work they've done for any candidates for public office.

The form additionally asks for the total number of member, a list of donors, amounts of donations and recipients of any funds.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, which is a coalition of 46 independent Tea Party and patriot groups, called the IRS actions a violation of constitutional rights and rejected the agency's apology. It claims 75 Tea Party and Patriot groups were affected between 2009 and 2012, including several in Virginia.

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