All Saints and a political IRS?

Donald Tobin at Ohio State wrote an interesting column on the law school's election law blog regarding the All Saints church in Pasadena's claim that political influences via the Justice Department intervened to control the IRS investigation against them.

While I think All Saints played its hand almost flawlessly in this controversy, I think it has overplayed its hand with regard to the alleged political intervention by the Justice Department. There is simply no evidence that the Justice Department attempted to influence this case for political reasons. But thanks to All Saints Church's decision to make all documents public, you can decide for yourself.

I have, for years, stated that the IRS was politically insulated when it comes to nonprofits and particularly their audits. All Saints' claim seems to suggest otherwise, but I think Don has it right... we have a rare opportunity to see the documents in an otherwise closed process, allowing the public to determine where the truth lies.