http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/clinton-foundation-irs-inquiry-involves-charitys-legal-status/article/2598174
An Internal Revenue Service inquiry into the Clinton Foundation is looking at questions over the well-connected charity's status as a registered nonprofit.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., noted that while the Clinton Foundation may be riddled with other problems, the issue of its tax exempt registration is what prompted the IRS to refer a congressional inquiry to an investigative division earlier this week.
"One of the things I think is so important on this is ... so many areas work on the not-for-profit sector, I want to make certain that there is clarity in this area of the code," Blackburn told the Washington Examiner. "I want to make sure that laws and rules are being abided by and that that sector has the ability to remain robust and healthy."
Blackburn led dozens of House Republicans in an effort to push the IRS, the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI to investigate aspects of the Clinton Foundation's operations that have raised red flags.
The Tennessee Republican said "sham charities" that have seemingly engaged in more obvious violations of tax law have been shut down while the Clinton Foundation has continued to thrive.
"You've got the conflicts of interest," Blackburn said of the Clinton Foundation. "They have a very small board, which leads to the good governance issues."
"Then you have the money trail issues," she added. "You also have their structure, and a year ago when we started looking at this, we were focused on the structure."
The IRS rejected a request from House Republicans to investigate the Clinton Foundation last summer with a simple form letter.
However, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen wrote in a letter to congressional Republicans on Monday that he had referred their inquiry to the Exempt Organizations Examinations Program for further review.