Newly released information shows a very close relationship between President Obama and his man at the IRS, who delayed the Tea party applications. William Wilkins is a long time donor to the democratic party and once fought a case against the IRS in which he defended Jerimiah Wright and the Trinity Church in 2008. Wilkins was a registered lobbyist for Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr since 1988, and was also a member of the Tax Practice Group, where he counseled nonprofits on compliance. As a lobbyist, he spread money around to both republicans and democrats, but Wilkins worked for the democrats from 1981 to 1988 as democratic counsel for the Senate Finance Committee.
Wilkins has donated money to the following democrats: Lloyd bensen, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Max Bauchus, David Pryor, Bill Bradley, Tom Foley, J.J. Pickle, Paul Simon, John Kerry, John Breaux, Tom Daschle, Dianne Feinstein, Robert Abrams, George Mitchell, Cody Graves, Vic Fazio, Paul Sarbanes, Barbara Kennelly, Bruce Vento, Chris Dodd, Patrick Leahy, Charlie Rangel, Kent Conrad, Tim Johnson, Jack Reed, Blanche Lincoln, Jeff Bingaman, Sherrod Brown, Jay Rockefeller, Brad Miller, Ken Salazar, and Bob Graham.
Wilkins was informed of the IRS probe and accusations of targeting of Tea party groups at least by August 4th, 2011. That raises serious doubts on the president's credibility, as it's inconceivable that his man and longtime loyal democratic donor would leave him in the dark.
In 2008, Wilkins represented Jerimiah Wright in a case brought by the IRS, alleging that they had violated their tax exempt status in 2008, in a case that could have proved problematic for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama. Wilkins took the case pro bono. Shortly after being inaugurated , Barack Obama named Wilkins as the new Chief Counsel of the IRS.
This is the first evidence showing a clear link between the president and the IRS scandal.
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