IRS deputy commissioner Faris Fink apologized Thursday in front of the House Oversight Committee for what he called "embarrassing" videos of IRS agents doing a Star Trek parody and line-dancing which, along with other similar projects, cost taxpayers more than $50,000.
After playing a clip of the Star Trek spoof in which Fink played Spock, Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) asked Fink what he was thinking when the video was made. The commissioner of the Small Business and Self-Employed Division of the agency replied regretfully that it, the one of IRS agents line-dancing and other such videos were "well-intentioned" but should never have been made.
"It would not occur today based upon all the guidelines that exist and frankly, they were not appropriate at that time either, Mr. Chairman," Fink said. "The fact of the matter is, it's embarrassing and I apologize. Those videos, I know it's in the inspector general's report, there is not a clear delineation of the cost of both the videos, but they are embarrassing and I regret the fact that they were made."