The suit, which also names  the U.S. Attorney General, Treasury Secretary, and top IRS officials, claims the federal government violated the First and Fifth amendments as well as the IRS’s own rules and regulations. 

It seeks protection from further IRS abuse or retaliation, as well as monetary damages. 

As Civil Beat reported, the Hawaii tea parties were among groups that went through long delays and inappropriate questions from the IRS when they filed for tax-exempt status. The Hawaii groups were among 25 Tea Party groups nationally involved in the suit.

“The IRS and the federal government are not going to get away with this unlawful targeting of conservative groups,” Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, said in a press release. “As this unconstitutional scheme continues even today, the only way to stop this flagrant and arrogant abuse of our clients’ rights is to file a federal lawsuit, which we have done. The lawsuit sends a very powerful message to the IRS and the Obama Administration – including the White House: Americans are not going to be bullied and intimidated by our government. They will not be subjected to unconstitutional treatment and unlawfully singled out and punished because of their ideological beliefs. Those responsible for this unprecedented intimidation ploy must be held accountable.”

— Kery Murakami