Oversight grills IRS Commissioner on past political activities

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) grilled former IRS commissioner Doug Shulman on his personal political affiliations and contributions in a contentious exchange in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

{mosads}“Have you participated in the political process?” Mica asked Shulman. “Could you tell the committee of your political participations and donations?”

“My whole life?” Shulman responded.

“Well, yes,” Mica continued. “I don’t know your background. I heard you were an appointee of one administration, but what is your history of participation?”

Shulman again responded by repeating his question, seemingly exasperated by the line of inquiry.

“My full life history of participation in politics?” he asked.

According to Federal Election Commission records, Shulman in 2004 donated $500 to the Democratic National Committee.

Shulman later acknowledged that he had been involved with political groups in the past, although he said he disassociated himself from the political process upon becoming commissioner.

“To the best of my recollection I have,” he said. “I haven’t in a long time and didn’t make any contributions while I was IRS commissioner.”

Shulman was summoned to Capitol Hill to testify about the circumstances surrounding the IRS’s targeting of some conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. Shulman was appointed by former President George W. Bush. His five-year term expired last December.