Bachmann attacks IRS for taxman's targeting of Tea Party

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann cited a "stunning abuse of power" by the IRS Friday, the day the agency apologized for singling out Tea Party groups and affiliates during the 2012 election.

As the Star Tribune reports, IRS employees targeted organizations that included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their applications for additional reviews to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

“It is outrageous that the IRS has admitted to intimidating and targeting Tea Party and conservative organizations because of their political beliefs," Bachmann, the chairwoman of the Tea Party caucus, said in a statement.

The IRS, for its part, denies any political motivations, saying the reviews came from low-level employees and that a George W. Bush appointee was leading the agency when the inquisitions were made.

The White House also denounced the investigations Friday.

The congresswoman from Minnesota's 6th District also called for "what assurances we have that this type of intimidation will never happen again."

The Washington Post, meanwhile, reports that IRS officials knew of the targeting as early as 2011.