WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement yesterday after learning that the Department of Justice is not expected to file criminal charges stemming from an investigation over political targeting by the Internal Revenue Service, despite the fact that the investigation is not complete:

How can the Department of Justice say that no charges will be filed when its investigation into the targeting of conservative groups isn’t finished? Discussing ongoing investigations is highly inappropriate and I would urge the Department to cease and desist from making such judgments when the public does not have the ability to look at the evidence to determine whether their conclusion is valid. The targeting of people and organizations for their political views by the Internal Revenue Service demands a fair and impartial investigation – not irresponsible leaks before the investigation is concluded. Having said that, the Finance Committee continues to work in a bipartisan fashion to investigate what happened, and we hope to conclude this investigation in the near future.  But again, these are serious matters – but to make this decision before the investigation is completed seems entirely out of order and inappropriate.