NPR News 2013-05-15 加文本

NPR News 2013-05-15

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

The Justice Department is ordering a criminal investigation into reports that the IRS targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny, it applied for tax-exempt status. Attorney General Eric Holder says the DOJ is coordinating with the FBI to find out if any laws were broken. The IRS concedes its agents acted inappropriately in its practice ahead of last year's elections but maintains it was not motivated by politics. However, the Republican leadership isn't buying it. NPR's Tamara Keith reports Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is demanding more accountability from the Obama administration. 

Only scratching the surface, that's how McConnell described for what is now known about the unfolding IRS scandal and he is calling on the president to make available anyone who may have answers about how the IRS handled applications from so-called social welfare groups.

No more misleading responses, no holding back witnesses, no matter how senior their current or former positions.

Majority Leader Harry Reid agrees a full investigation is needed, but he says it should also look into the use of 501C4 status by groups with explicitly political missions. Attorney General Eric Holder says he has ordered an investigation into whether criminal activity took place at the IRS. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the Capitol.

At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney urged the public to withhold judgement until all the facts were clear.

We have not seen the report, we have not, you know, independently collected information about what transpired. We need the independent inspector general's report to be released before we can make judgements. 

Carney also faced tough questioning from the White House Press Corps about the Justice Department's decision to seize the work and phone records of reporters at the Associated Press of which NPR's a member. The administration defended the decision saying it needed to investigate what Attorney General Holder called a very serious leak about an operation involving in al-Qaeda plot. But AP's chief executive called it a mass of an uNPRecedented intrusion.

The administration is also dealing with news that Russia is expelling a U.S. embassy officer suspected working for the CIA in attempting to recruit a Russian agent. NPR's Michele Kelemen has more on that.

The Russian foreign ministry says Ryan Fogle, a third secretary in the U.S. embassy, was declared persona non grata after he was detained with what Moscow calls a classic spy arsenal and lots of cash. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell was tight lipped about the case and wouldn't say if Fogle as the Russians claim works for the CIA.

All I can confirm for you is that a member of our mission was briefly detained and released.

The news broke just as the U.S. ambassador was answering questions on Twitter. Michael McFaul received many Twits about the case, but he didn't respond those. He has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

Before the closing bell, Dow was up 123 points.

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Workers are said to begin demolishing what's left of the JetStar roller coaster, once an icon of the New Jersey coastline. It was knocked off its pier and into the water. It became a symbol of super storm Sandy's devastation. NPR's Margot Adler has more.

It will take about four days to remove the debris from the coaster with crews working around the clock in Seaside Heights New Jersey. The roller coaster plunged off the pier during the storm last October. Casino Pier official signed a contract with Weeks Marine of Cranford, New Jersey to remove the JetStar and other debris. Weeks Marine will also handle under water salvage as well as demolishing of upper deck of the pier. It's not clear how long the work will take nor the cost. But the lower deck of the pier and limited rides will be back in action by memorial day. Margot Adler, NPR News.

A new government estimate says a budget deficit for the current year will come in far below previous projections. The Congressional Budget Office study predicting today a 2013 budget deficit of 642 billion that's more than $200 billion below its February estimate.

More global retailers are signing onto a safety plan for Bangladesh's garment workers weeks after a factory collapsed in Dhaka and killed more than 1,100 people. Benetton is the latest retailer to join the pact that calls for more rigorous safety inspections.

Before the close, Dow was up 123 points at 15,250; NASDAQ Composite Index up 24 at 3,463; and the S&P 500 up 16 at 1,650.

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