IRS chief : Impeachment charges lack merit, won't testify

WASHINGTON (AP) — The commissioner of the IRS said Monday that Republican allegations that he misled congressional investigators probing his agency "are without merit," and said he would not appear at a congressional hearing this week examining whether he deserves to be impeached.

Chaffetz, whose resolution is co-sponsored by 73 GOP lawmakers, accuses Koskinen of hindering congressional investigators trying to gather evidence about how the IRS mistreated conservative groups earlier this decade, actions the agency has acknowledged and apologized for.

In his statement, which was provided by Judiciary panel Republicans, Koskinen acknowledged the "strong feelings" and "understandable frustration" that many in the GOP have had with the investigations, in which data containing requested emails was destroyed.

Conservatives who have long targeted the IRS were outraged when the agency admitted in 2013 that it subjected conservative tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status to excessive scrutiny.