Posted on 05/21/2013 12:40:53 PM PDT by 11th Commandment
Edited on 05/21/2013 12:48:43 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON – A top IRS official in the division that reviews nonprofit groups will invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions before a House committee investigating the agency’s improper screening of conservative nonprofit groups.
Lois Lerner, the head of the exempt organizations division of the IRS, won’t answer questions about what she knew about the improper screening – or why she didn’t reveal it to Congress, according to a letter from her defense lawyer, William W. Taylor 3rd.
Lerner was scheduled to appear before the House Oversight committee Wednesday.
DOCUMENT: The Inspector General’s report on the IRS
“She has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation but under the circumstances she has no choice but to take this course,” said a letter by Taylor to committee Chairman Darrell E. Issa, R-Calif. The letter, sent Monday, was obtained Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times.
The 5th goes beyond mere civil proceedings before Congress. The 5th recognizes that you have a right to *not* incriminate yourself ‘publically or privately’. Should you sit before congress in a civil hearing and admit or allude to breaking laws, that can and likely will be used against you. It also goes beyond legal and extends into the court of public opinion so immunity doesn’t compel testimony either.
I just made that up, but it sounds right.
Perhaps not in theory, but in practical, real world terms, that's exactly what it is.
Good. Even if they’re never punished with losing their job or a jail sentence, let’s at least bankrupt them with lawyer fees, like they’ve done to folks on our side.
Meant to ping you to #156.
I suspect that getting the most damaging witnesses to clam up is precisely why Holder ordered a criminal investigation
Exactamundo. It’s a delaying tactic to let some air out of hte scandal balloon. The Treasury IG hasn’t even completed their investigation. Why the rush to a FBI criminal investigation after insisting we needed to wait to let Treasury do their audit?
One little problem with your plan: John Boehner is the Speaker, and he wants to play nice with Obama.
Make her take the fifth to well thought out questions - first.
Then, craft a highly conditional immunity agreement based on proffered testimony. If she does not come through with the goods, it is off to trial/jail.
Waterboard the bitch.
Youy can have a lot more fun with properly placed electrodes and a field telephone. Long distance calls can be particularly interesting.
You found gold!
Pro bono!
Just like I thought.
He’s an entrenched demonic-rat for Team Obama and The Haughty Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of all anti-American people.
Obama’s FBI has “her” in their sights? Probably she is up for a “patriot award or something similar”.
Allahpundit @allahpundit
Issa going to subpoena Lerner anyway. Good. http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/top-irs-official-to-invoke-fifth-issa-subpoenas-20130521 …
1:14 PM - 21 May 2013
“One little problem with your plan: John Boehner is the Speaker, and he wants to play nice with Obama.”
“Boehner - Benghazi, MIA
Boehner - IRS, MIA
Boehner - Wire Taps, MIA
Boehner - AP records, MIA
Boehner - Fast and Furious, MIA
Boehner - Covering for Islamic criminals, MIA
This.
I think this is an interesting turn of events.
This woman needs to be removed from heading Obamacare...sheesh.
Good for Issa..get her up there on record & make her squirm!
Serious question, who would arrest/try her since the DOJ and all the US attorneys are in Obama's hands?
Lord knows what they have on him.
This is Obama's IRS. Taking the fifth will probably get her a promotion and a bonus.
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