Lois lerner wikipedia biography

A US official whose office was at the centre of a row over scrutiny given to political groups seeking tax exemption has retired, the agency has confirmed.

Lois Lerner, on paid leave since May, led the tax-exempt division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Revelations the IRS had subjected conservative political groups seeking tax-exempt status to extra auditing sparked outrage among Republicans.

But it has since been revealed liberal groups may have been targeted, too.

Republicans in Congress have repeatedly called for Ms Lerner to be fired.

Ms Lerner, a career civil servant, declined to testify in Congress on the matter, citing protection under the US constitution against self-incrimination.

Two senior IRS officials have already resigned over the affair.

The additional IRS scrutiny given to political organisations seeking tax-exempt status under a section of US tax law covering non-profit groups began in 2010