On Monday, J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, said the IRS’s targeting of conservatives was an “unprecedented breach” of the public trust.

In responding to questions from Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, George said that there were “attempts to use the Internal Revenue Service” during the Nixon administration that “might be comparable.” But he then acknowledged the scandal his audit uncovered was worse.

“This is unprecedented,” he said.