WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today questioned Steven Mnuchin, at his nomination hearing to be Secretary of the Treasury, on reining in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and bringing strict oversight to the agency to stop the Obama Administration’s abuse of the IRS as political attack dog.

Roberts said, “It is clear to me that the previous administration used the IRS as a political weapon to target groups and organizations whose views were differed from the President. This is beyond alarming.”

Roberts has introduced numerous pieces of legislation to rein in the IRS and prevent more targeting of political groups.

“The damage caused by these actions is remarkable and likely long lasting. This issue has never just been about IRS practice and procedure, nor just the interpretation of a vaguely drawn statute. This has always been about the First Amendment, protecting those rights, and preventing the government from restricting them.”

Read more on his efforts here.

Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee.