IRS Money Grab Abuse

Ninth District Victim of “Civil Forteiture” From: Congressman Doug Collins Gainsville GA 2/14/15

 

Dear Friend,

I'm a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which protects our civil rights. One is due process, according to our Constitution's Fifth Amendment: "No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

 

That's exactly what the Internal Revenue Service did to Northeast Georgian and small business owner Andrew Clyde, who testified on Capitol Hill this week about "civil

forfeiture."

 

The Ninth District resident, who owns Clyde Armory, experienced a sales boom when the President threatened to remake our country's gun laws. Fearing it could be their last chance, customers flocked to his store to purchase arms. Suddenly, Andrew was in possession of a lot of cash. His insurance policy meant he would have to deposit it in amounts drawing Interval Revenue Service scrutiny.

 

More than scrutiny, as a matter of fact. The IRS seized Andrew's bank accounts, almost destroying his business and the 25 jobs he provides. But the Justice Department never charged him with a crime. He hadn't committed one -- just fallen afoul of a law that Congress intended to prevent money laundering. As with many of our laws, the executive branch is increasingly bending them to its own purposes, collecting fees and seizing property in order to evade Congress' power to fund the executive branch.

 

Not only is the Obama Administration evading Congress, it is also evading the courts. Because criminal courts often refuse to uphold its cash-grabs, the Administration has turned to civil courts with a lower burden of proof. To his credit, Andrew fought the IRS to a near draw, surrendering just $50,000 of the nearly million dollars representing

his entire business. During the ordeal, he was not sure he would be able to continue to operate it.

 

The Navy veteran, also my friend, told me on Capitol Hill this week that he never thought he would become a target of his own government. The IRS seized his property without

probable cause. The Justice Department never charged him with a crime, while prosecutors threatened his reputation. More small business owners have told the House the same thing.

 

Unfortunately, its aggressive pursuit of civil forfeiture is just one example of this Administration run amok. On the House Judiciary Committee, I'm fighting to expose its misconduct and restore the separation of powers our Founders designed to protect our rights.

 

Source:Doug Collins, Member of Congress