ACLJ Scores MAJOR Win in IRS Lawsuit
The ACLJ just scored a major win in federal court against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Remember when we told you how the IRS initially refused to grant tax-exempt status for Christians Engaged, a religious organization that was denied for reasons like praying for the leaders of our country and following Biblical principles? The IRS actually laid out those and other blatantly discriminatory and unconstitutional reasons for the rejection in a letter to Christians Engaged.
We took action immediately, filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request – which the Biden Administration ignored. So we filed a lawsuit to get to the bottom of this targeting of Christians by the IRS. In response to our lawsuit, the IRS filed a Motion to Dismiss. However, the Court denied its motion yesterday.
The court opinion stated:
[T]he IRS has provided nothing more than conclusory assertions and oblique hints about the purported vague and burdensome nature of the request, without explaining why each category of records requested is vague and burdensome in context. . . . And although the IRS did include a declaration in support of its motion, that declaration also is conclusory about these alleged deficiencies. . . . The IRS has not met its burden of showing that the ACLJ’s FOIA request is improper.
Not only did we file a lawsuit against the IRS, but we also took the issue directly to a Congressional round table. ACLJ Chief Counsel, my dad, Jay Sekulow testified before Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, explaining how this targeting couldn’t be the work of a “rogue” agent:
Congressman, the problem is not just the individual agent. I do not believe for a moment that an individual agent wrote a letter to Christians Engaged not reviewed with a legend including M equals the Word of God and D equals Republican. First of all, just think about that for a moment. The idea that they would even do that.
The fact that the IRS thought that they could get away with this shows the danger of giving a government agency that much power. And now it looks like the Biden Administration is attempting to do just that with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Disinformation Governance Board that we told you about.
ACLJ Director of Policy Harry Hutchison pointed out how these efforts indicate an all-out attack on freedom of speech:
First, the Biden Administration has launched an unmitigated attack on grassroots Americans, on Christians, on pro-lifers – and this is all part of a war on truth. And it is also a part of the Biden Administration’s attempt to eviscerate Americans’ freedom of speech rights and free exercise rights. The Biden Administration seeks to entangle religion with government policy contrary to the United States Constitution. So, if you subscribe to certain religious or political views, then the Biden Administration seeks to use the entire weight of government to deny you your rights within the meaning of both the law and the Constitution. Albert Einstein said, “A clever person solves problems while a wise person avoids them.” The Biden Administration shows that it is neither wise nor clever. Instead, it invites problems, leaving the courts to solve problems the IRS unnecessarily causes.
Harry added:
Many of the bureaucrats in government and many of the individuals who are part and parcel of the Deep State believe that free speech is a luxury which we can no longer afford.
One of the biggest issues we face right now is the weaponizing of federal agencies to silence the opposition in the United States. We are fighting for freedom on multiple fronts. Our win in court yesterday means the lawsuit against the IRS will move forward. In addition to this lawsuit, we also filed a FOIA request against the DHS to get to the bottom of the Disinformation Governance Board. We will continue to fight to make sure every American’s voice is heard.
Today’s full Sekulow broadcast is complete with even further in-depth analysis of our victory in court against the IRS.
Watch the full broadcast below: