Posted on 03/05/2014 7:14:01 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
California Rep. Darrell Issa adjourned a divisive House Oversight hearing Wednesday after IRS official Lois Lerner pleaded the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer his questions.
“Seeking the truth is the obligation of this committee,” Issa said before announcing that he had no expectation that Lerner would answer his questions and adjourning the hearing.
Lerner invoked the Fifth Amendment on each question Issa asked about the agency’s targeting of conservative groups. The hearing lasted approximately fifteen minutes before Issa released Lerner.
Issa began the hearing by explaining that Lerner previously waived her Fifth Amendment rights in a May 2013 hearing and that “the committee may proceed to consider whether she be held in contempt.”
VIDEO at source.
ssa did not choose to hold Lerner in contempt of Congress on the floor of the hearing. It is unclear at this time if he will choose to pursue contempt charges.
Immediately after Issa adjourned, Democratic Oversight Committee Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings angrily blasted Issa’s efforts. Issa ignored Cummings and shut off the Democrat’s microphone.
“Mr. Chairman, you cannot run a committee like this,” Cummings shouted, calling Issa’s inquiry a “one-sided investigation” and saying, “We’re better than this as a country.”
“I am a member of the Congress of the United States of America, and I am tired of this,” Cummings shouted.
“Close it down,” Issa said, releasing Lerner and angrily cutting Cummings’ microphone.
Issa noted in his remarks that Oversight has “conducted 33 bipartisan, transcribed interviews with employees from the IRS” but that the IRS “continues to withhold” some of Lerner’s emails that Issa requested in his three separate subpoenas for documents.
Issa is just a big bag of wind. Lerner essentially gets off. Issa won’t file for contempt..
It's time...
“I am a member of the Congress of the United States of America, and I am tired of this,” Cummings shouted.
Well, I am a citizen of the United States of America and it’s unprintable how tired I am of the whole bunch in D.C. (exceptions noted), as well as Ms. Lerner.
F.U.L.L.
“Issa is just a big bag of wind. Lerner essentially gets off. Issa won’t file for contempt..”
Issa is working up enough strength to slap Lerner on the wrist. Where are the political heavyweights who are not afraid to stand against tyranny?
bravo!!
What the... Issa didn’t figure this out ahead of time?? Exactly what kind of two-bit circus is the GOPe running here?
Are you kidding me?
“Issa is just a big bag of wind. Lerner essentially gets off. Issa won’t file for contempt..”
And what would filing for contempt gain?
Why isn’t this woman in prison? In fact, why are any of them, from Obama on down, still walking around free?
Congress is just a rubber stamp for the communist regime.
Get it folks? Issa has not been our friend. Lerner belongs in jail.
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WHO KNEW? The IRS (a tax-funded L/E agency) takes its marching orders from Democrats. Other govt agencies were sicced on conservatives---the FBI, ATF, the IRS, and OSHA were sicced on Catherine Englebrecht, who was harassed on numerous occasions, as she valiantly tried to improve the US voting system.
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DEMS STOOP TO CONQUEUR--order IRS to act (to save their seats)
by Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 2/13/14
Senate Democrats facing tough elections this year want the IRS to play a more aggressive role in regulating outside groups expected to spend millions of dollars on their races. In the wake of the IRS targeting scandal, the Democrats are publicly prodding the agency instead of lobbying them directly.
Dems are also careful to say the IRS should treat conservative and liberal groups equally, but they’re concerned about an impending tidal wave of attack ads funded by GOP-allied organizations. Much of the funding for those groups is secret, in contrast to the donations lawmakers collect, which must be reported publicly.
One of the most powerful groups is Americans for Prosperity, funded by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. It has already spent close to $30 million on ads attacking Democrats this election cycle.
“If they’re claiming the tax relief, the tax benefit to be a nonprofit for social relief or social justice, then that’s what they should be doing,” said Sen. Mark Begich (D), who faces a competitive race in Alaska. “If it’s to give them cover so they can do political activity, that’s abusing the tax code. And either side."
Asked if the IRS should play a more active role policing political advocacy by groups that claim to be focused on social welfare, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) responded, “Absolutely. Both on the left and the right,” she said. “As taxpayers, we should not be providing a write-off to groups to do political activity, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Shaheen called the glut of political spending by self-described social welfare groups that qualify under section 501(c) (4) of the tax code “outrageous.” Shaheen is in a good position now but could find herself embroiled in a tight campaign if former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass) challenges her.
Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.), the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent, said the IRS has jurisdiction over 501(c)(4) groups, as well as charities, which fall under section 5/01(c)(3) of the tax code and sometimes engage in quasi-political activity.
“That whole 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) [issue], those are IRS numbers. It is inherently an internal revenue matter,” he said. “There are two things you don’t want in political money, in the fundraising world and expenditure world. You don’t want secret money, and you don’t want unlimited money, and that’s what we have now.” --SNIP--
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MOMENTS TO REMEMBER AT THE VOTING BOOTH
<><> Seven US Senators ask the IRS to “Investigate” political opponents....
<><> Elijah Cummings led the Democrat pack in smearing patriot Englebrecht....
<><> Obama said Tea Parties were a "threat to democracy."
I agree that Issa is worse than worthless, because he fails to exercise the options at his disposal. He’s a chicken. Today’s hearing proves that he’d rather run than fight.
Issa = Idiot.
Cummings = Democrat, Idiot
Block and Stop Cummings doing his best to protect Obama
Your comment bears repeating over and over again.
(If anyone thinks this is going anywhere, see Issa's Fast and Furious results.)
Sounds to me like Lerner’s lawyer lied his effing arse off. He will likely go to jail before she does.
“Plead the 5th, or heart attack?”
“Plead the 5th, or heart attack?”
“Plead the 5th, or heart attack?
“...Alex, I think I’ll go with ‘Plead the 5th.’ for a hundred.”
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