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Scandal politics sweep Capitol Hill - Jake Sherman and Lauren French

by Jake Sherman

Scandal politics are sweeping Capitol Hill.

Just days after news broke that the IRS targeted conservative non-profits, Speaker John Boehner's House committees will morph into mock courtrooms where the White House will be the defendant in what amounts to a number of high-stakes political trials.

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"The Speaker and other House leaders have been clear: effective, responsible oversight is a key Constitutional responsibility of Congress"

Harry Reid: Senate will probe IRS

The most recent scandal to grip the Obama administration came Monday evening, when the Associated Press disclosed that the Justice Department sought its reporters' phone records — including those of correspondents who sit in the Capitol. Within hours, House Republicans vowed to investigate. To make things worse for Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to be on Capitol Hill Thursday for a House Judiciary Committee hearing.

(Also on POLITICO: Journalists fume over DOJ raid on AP)

That's hardly the president's only problem.

Two separate committees — Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means — will probe whether the IRS was treating right-leaning groups unfairly. Republicans moved swiftly to secure the IRS acting director for a Friday hearing, just a week after the news broke. GOP aides hinted Monday afternoon that widespread calls for the director's resignation could come shortly.

The panels will probe whether the targeting of right-leaning groups is systematic, or isolated. Ways and Means Republicans say they are interested in when top IRS officials, specifically former commissioner Douglas Shulman was told about search terms used to single out conservative groups. Shulman told Ways and Means lawmakers in March 2012 that the IRS was not engaged in any manner of political targeting.

Top GOP sources acknowledge that it's highly unlikely the White House was directly involved in the IRS mess, but the probe is sure to only add to the Republican-spun narrative of Democratic, big-government overreach.

The IRS probes might be new to the public, but they're not to House Republicans, who have long worried about politicization at the agency. The hot-button topic has come up in several committee hearings since the GOP took the majority.

(Also on POLITICO: 5 key players in IRS mess)

The inquest into the IRS is just the latest in a string of GOP-led investigations suddenly gaining steam on Capitol Hill. Instead of negotiating with the White House, GOP lawmakers are now investigating it.

There are currently five separate committee investigations into the attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, and a yet-to-be announced probe into Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius raising millions of dollars to promote Obamacare. Ways and Means is demanding answers to seven questions on this matter, as well.

All together, roughly one-third of House committees are engaged in investigating some aspect of the Obama administration.

"The Speaker and other House leaders have been clear: effective, responsible oversight is a key Constitutional responsibility of Congress," said Michael Steel, Boehner's spokesman. "Whether the topic is the truth about Benghazi, thuggish political attacks from the IRS, or the 'train wreck' of the President's health care law, we will keeping fighting to make sure the American people know the truth."

As Obama tries to jump-start immigration reform, a deficit deal and raise the debt ceiling, it's becoming clear it could be a long, hot summer for the White House.

Republicans are having an "I told you so" moment, as well. For months, the party's lawmakers have breathlessly proclaimed the IRS was unfairly targeting conservative outside groups, and swore the Obama administration was covering something up in the wake of the attack in Benghazi. Now, others seem to agree.

The uptick in oversight opens a new chapter in Boehner's tumultuous relationship with Obama, and ensures that the president and House GOP's political fortunes will be determined in the unpredictable committee hearing process.

Scandal politics sweep Capitol Hill - Jake Sherman and Lauren French
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/scandal-politics-sweep-capitol-hill-91297.html

John Hames