The White House counsel's office was alerted to the Treasury inspector general's review of the Internal Revenue Service in April, press secretary Jay Carney said Monday during a press briefing with reporters, Politico reports:
Carney told reporters that the counsel's office was told of the examination into the targeting of conservative groups during the week of April 22, but not given details about the review's findings. President Obama, Carney said, was not told about the review and learned of it only after news reports emerged Friday, just what Obama said earlier Monday.
"We have never -- we don’t have access to, nor should we, the IG’s report or any draft versions of it," Carney said.
Obama condemned Monday the alleged actions of IRS agents in Cincinnati, who singled out conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status on the basis of certain political goals or phrases in their applications.
