Judge Approves Tea Party Case Against IRS

A federal judge has ruled that a Tea Party class-action case against the IRS can move to the next phase.

Judge Susan Dlott certified that numerous Tea Party groups were targeted in the same way by the IRS, allowing more than 200 groups to proceed with their lawsuit.

The groups argue the IRS violated their First Amendment rights, discriminating against them because of their conservative political views.

The Wall Street Journal reports the judge indicated previously she believes the Obama administration has been stonewalling the investigation.

At a hearing in September, the Clinton-appointed Judge Dlott blasted the Justice Department saying, "My impression is the government probably did something wrong in this case."

"I feel like the government is doing everything it possibly can to make this as complicated as it possibly can, to last as long as it possibly can, so that by the time there is a result, nobody is going to care except the plaintiffs," she said.