By Rachel Weiner
Rachel Weiner
Local reporter covering federal court in Alexandria, Va. and local court in Arlington and Alexandria.

Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered an investigation into whether criminal activity took place at the Internal Revenue Service, he told reporters Tuesday.

"I have ordered an investigation to be done," Holder said. "The FBI is coordinating with the Justice Department to see if any laws were broken in connection with those matters," he added. "We are examining the facts to see if there were criminal violations."

An IRS official revealed Friday that conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status were targeted for extra scrutiny. Officials in Washington and at least two other offices were involved, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Whether or not they were criminal, those actions were "outrageous and unacceptable," Holder said.

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