INTERNACIONAL
IRS fires top aide linked to Obama-era Tea Party targeting scandal
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EXCLUSIVE: A top aide and confidante to former Obama official Lois Lerner who targeted conservatives and conservative groups was fired by the Internal Revenue Service, Fox News Digital has learned.
Sources told Fox News Digital that Holly Paz, who served as the IRS Commissioner of Large Business and International Division, was terminated Monday.
KEY AIDE IN IRS’ TEA PARTY TARGETING CONTROVERSY PUT ON LEAVE AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF NEW ANTI-GOP EFFORT
Paz was placed on administrative leave last month and was subsequently fired following an internal review, sources say.
This March 5, 2014 file photo shows former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official Lois Lerner on Capitol Hill in Washington. IRS employees erased computer backup tapes a month after officials discovered that thousands of emails related to the tax agency’s tea party scandal had been lost, according to government investigators. (AP)
Paz had served as Lerner’s deputy during the Obama administration.
In 2013, it was revealed that the IRS, under Lerner, had wrongfully scrutinized tax-exempt applications related to the phrases «Tea Party,» «9/12» and «Constitution.» The Treasury’s inspector general later confirmed «inappropriate criteria» were used to target conservative groups and criticized ineffective oversight of systemic bias.
The IRS reportedly spent more than two years targeting conservative tax-exempt groups.
Paz reviewed and helped oversee the handling of tax-exempt applications, and has been described as a key link between the Cincinnati, Ohio IRS office where the screenings of applications took place and the IRS headquarters.
A sign for the Internal Revenue Service is seen outside its building on Feb. 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. ( Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
FLASHBACK: HOLLY PAZ AND LOIS LERNER WANT IRS TESTIMONY SEALED FOREVER, FEARING DEATH THREATS
Her dismissal followed scrutiny from lawmakers over a subordinate work unit aimed at auditing pass-through businesses that Biden-era Commissioner Danny Werfel had created and assigned her to lead.
Werfel called the new work unit a big step in «ensur[ing] the IRS holds the nation’s wealthiest filers accountable,» and Paz called it an «important change» in the IRS structure.
The Trump administration, after years of litigation, in 2017, settled lawsuits with Tea Party and other conservative groups who say they were unfairly targeted by the IRS under the Obama administration.
TRUMP SCORES MAJOR WIN AS SENATE INSTALLS IRS CRITIC TO LEAD THE AGENCY
Lerner and Paz, at the time, asked the federal courts to keep their testimonies in the Tea Party targeting case private forever, over fear of death threats.
The targeting scandal drew heavy attention in 2013 after the IRS admitted it applied extra scrutiny to conservative groups applying for nonprofit status. Lerner became the public face of the scandal, though many other IRS officials, like Paz, were also involved.
US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16, 2025. (Getty)
In a 2017 settlement, the IRS offered an apology, saying the agency «admits that its treatment of Plaintiffs during the tax-exempt determination process, including screening their applications based on their names or policy positions, subjecting those applications to heightened scrutiny and inordinate delays, and demanding some Plaintiffs’ information that TIGTA determined was unnecessary to the agency’s determination of their tax-exempt status, was wrong.»
FLASHBACK: MCCONNELL, BRAUN TO ROLL OUT BILL TO PREVENT DEMOCRATS FROM ‘WEAPONIZING’ IRS TO TARGET CONSERVATIVES
«For such treatment, the IRS expresses its sincere apology,» the IRS said at the time.
While the Treasury Department did not comment on the move to fire Paz, it represents the latest step in Secretary Scott Bessent’s efforts to «de-weaponize» the IRS in his role as acting commissioner.
Fox News Digital has learned that Bessent has been working closely with Hunter Biden whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, and has met several times with IRS leadership.
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Sources told Fox News Digital that Bessent and IRS officials are working to improve customer service and outcomes for American taxpayers. They are also working to streamline technical improvements, and cut back on bloated hiring from the Biden administration.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
scott bessent,donald trump,barack obama,joe biden
INTERNACIONAL
ICE director says Portland facility faces violence with ‘little help from local police’
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Federal immigration officials say their Portland, Oregon, facility has come under nightly attack, with little help from local police because of political directives from city leaders.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Cammila Wamsley, director of Portland’s ICE office, said the facility has faced violence for more than 100 consecutive nights, with Portland police largely absent under guidance from the mayor and city council.
«I just, I can’t figure out what’s happening at the FDA. I’m totally baffled by it,» Wamsley said, describing her frustration at seeing federal staff attacked outside the building while officers inside lack jurisdiction to intervene. «It’s frustrating for us to watch people be attacked on the street and know that we don’t have the authority to be able to really step in unless there’s some nexus to federal law.»
She said nightly protests have escalated beyond chants and signs, with bottle rockets striking the ICE building, rocks shattering windows, lasers targeting officers’ eyes and barricades blocking vehicles.
ANTI-ICE PORTLAND RIOTERS WITH GUILLOTINE CLASH WITH POLICE IN WAR-LIKE SCENES
People protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility as federal agents watch from the rooftop in Portland, Ore., Wednesday. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Wamsley said protesters have followed ICE staff members home and doxxed at least six employees.
«Later, towards the evening and around dark, there are a lot of folks that come up dressed in all black,» she explained. «They are here to wreak havoc. They’ll block our cars, throw paint, damage property and even try to follow our folks home.»
She warned that when crowds swell quickly, the violence becomes more dangerous.
ICE DIRECTOR REVEALS DANGEROUS NIGHTLY ANTIFA ‘BATTLE’ AS TRUMP PREPARES FEDERAL DEPLOYMENT TO PORTLAND
A Federal Protective Service officer stands guard in front of demonstrators as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcementdraw hundreds to the ICE headquarters in south Portland, Ore., Sunday. (John Rudoff/Reuters)
«We’ve seen it before. The folks here can go from a crowd of 50 to a crowd of 1,000 in 30 minutes,» she explained. «Sometimes we only have 20 officers here. We would not be able to defend the building with that show of force.»
Wamsley said the Portland Police Department has been slow to respond — and sometimes doesn’t respond at all — because of city policy. She explained that assaults have occurred outside and across the street from the building, but police have either taken too long to arrive or not shown up at all.
«That is not the stance they would take six blocks from here, but it is the stance they take with us because of guidance from the mayor and city council,» Wamsley said.
PORTLAND MAYOR DOUBLES DOWN ON SANCTUARY STATUS AFTER VIOLENT ANTI-ICE RIOT
Anti-ICE protesters roll out a guillotine in front of the ICE field office in Portland, Ore. (X/@KatieDaviscourt)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Portland mayor’s office and police department for comment.
Still, Wamsley said ICE staff remain committed to their mission despite the unrest.
«The people that work here are here to serve the American public,» she said. «They are here to enforce the same immigration laws we’ve had in place since the 1950s. Nothing has changed in that regard. We come to work every day. We do our job the way we have been doing it, and we’ll continue to do that.»
PORTLAND RAMPS UP PRESSURE ON ICE BUILDING WITH LAND USE VIOLATION NOTICE
Federal agents arrest a person outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore., in June. (X/@choeshow/@frontlinesTPUSA)
Todd Rignel, assistant special agent for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Oregon, said federal agencies are targeting Antifa-linked groups they blame for organizing much of the unrest.
«They’re not just facing HSI. They’re facing the FBI, ATF, DEA, IRS — all of these agencies,» he said. «That’s a force to be reckoned with.»
Portland remains a flashpoint for unrest with the ICE facility at the center of nightly confrontations.
President Donald Trump announced plans to send 200 National Guard troops to Portland to support immigration authorities. Officials said the troops would be stationed near protest areas.
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The warnings follow an attack on an ICE facility in Dallas Sept. 24. Authorities said two detainees were killed and another was hospitalized after a gunman opened fire before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Investigators said shell casings recovered bore an «ANTI-ICE» message.
Fox News Digital’s Madison Colombo contributed to this report.
oregon,homeland security,immigration,antifa,vandalism
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QUIERO RECIBIRLO
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the assassination of Charlie Kirk was a sign of a «deep rift» in American society, while offering his condolences to the family of the late conservative activist.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi at a forum of Russian experts, Putin addressed the killing, according to Reuters.
«This is a disgusting atrocity, especially since it was broadcast live. We all saw it. It was truly horrific,» Putin said. «First and foremost, I extend my condolences to Mr. Kirk’s family and all his loved ones. We sympathize and empathize.
JD VANCE DECLARES THERE IS ‘NO UNITY’ WITH PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday condemned the killing of Charlie Kirk while speaking to a panel of Russian experts. (Getty Images)
«What happened is a reflection of a deep division within society. In the United States, I don’t believe there is any need to escalate the situation externally, as the country’s political leadership is working to restore order domestically,» he added.
Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at Utah Valley University.
His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, faces seven charges, including aggravated homicide, which carries the potential death penalty; felony discharge of a firearm; obstruction and witness tampering.
Robinson returned to court Monday and is scheduled to appear again Oct. 30. Prosecutors said they had already gathered «voluminous» evidence against him.
TRUMP DEFENDS LABELING ANTIFA A ‘TERRORIST ORGANIZATION’ AS HE TARGETS LEFT-WING EXTREMISM
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Kirk’s murder has intensified debate over political violence in the United States. Republican leaders have urged Democrats to moderate their rhetoric toward President Donald Trump and to embrace greater tolerance for opposing views.
In addition to addressing Kirk’s death, Putin responded to Trump’s recent characterization of Russia as a «paper tiger.»
«A paper tiger? Then go deal with this paper tiger,» Putin said. «If we are fighting the entire NATO bloc, moving forward, advancing and feeling confident, and we are still called a paper tiger, then what does that make NATO itself?»
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Last week, Trump predicted Ukraine could reclaim all its territory from Russia before labeling Moscow a «paper tiger.»
vladimir putin,charlie kirk,russia
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