WASHINGTON --  Senator Kay Hagan issued a statement Monday critical of the investigation of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) handling of tax-exempt status applications, which shows employees who may have been improperly targeting organizations based on key words and other narrow, politically-motivated criteria.

"Reports that IRS employees were targeting certain groups applying for tax-exempt status are disturbing and troubling to say the least," said Hagan.

"The Inspector General's review of the IRS is expected to be released soon, and I will be reviewing their findings closely. If it turns out that the IRS was in fact targeting non-profit groups based on their political views, I think most North Carolinians would join me in condemning this behavior that has no place in our government. There should be a full investigation, and anyone and everyone who was aware of or involved in this needs to be held accountable."